Such is the case with The Gathering Field, who signed on to Atlantic Records with great hopes about two years ago. Lately, though, the band has been in limbo, as attempts to find a producer and record the follow-up to Lost In America have been thwarted by scheduling conflicts and, seemingly, label indifference. "We've been kind of struggling with Atlantic," says lead singer and songwriter Bill Deasy.

One problem is the loss of their biggest, and most influential, backer. Jay Ferris, the head of A&R at Atlantic when The Gathering Field joined the label's roster, was an enthusiastic supporter of the band. But in an executive shuffle all too common these days in the music industry, Ferris was ousted (he now heads Mammoth Records).

Since Ferris' departure, Deasy and the rest of The Gathering Field have have a tough time. Yet Deasy hasn't given up completely. "I guess I'm a pathetic optimist," he says. The group had recorded three songs with John Holbrooke during their search for a producer. "It was a wonderful experience," Deasy says. "He really dug what we did." And while the results weren't selected for their commercial viability ("We were just trying to see if it worked creatively," Deasy notes), they did pique a little label interest. "Atlantic might finance four more songs," he says. Another option would be Polygram, with which the band has a publishing deal.

In the meantime, the band is scheduling concert dates in the region. The first is a local music showcase at the Rosedale Fire Hall, Penn Hills. And whatever happens with Atlantic, Deasy hopes to have some sort of new recording out by the end of the year. "It's not that I'm bitter," he says. "It's just frustrating."

Back Stage At Rosedale, with The Gathering Field, Brownie Mary, the Clarks and Shari Richards, starts at 7 tonight 798-0412.