For many Americans, March 2020 was the month the world stopped. On March 13, Governor Mike Parson declared a state of emergency in Missouri due to the COVID-19 virus. Everything changed, and things haven’t been the same since.

Closures began to happen quickly. A popular local bar and concert venue, Eastside Tavern, closed its doors temporarily.

On Feb. 19, Ruby Lane was the first band to host a live show at the venue in six months.

The Columbia band said that working together during the pandemic was extremely difficult.

“If somebody got exposed and was quarantined for two weeks we couldn’t really do anything,” Dylan Riggs, the band’s bass player, said.

Despite the challenges of writing and recording during a pandemic, Ruby Lane was able to take inspiration from their hardships and use it to create their debut album “Trains, Spaceships and Automobiles.”

“This is a relatable album,” pianist Luke Anderson, said. “It talks about something that everyone went through in some way and it’s really really cool.”

The nine-song album clocks in at 48 minutes, making it their longest project that they have released thus far. The album includes a song entitled “Corona” that Anderson said is heavily inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The band members said the new album differs from their other work because it is a more polished and cohesive project.

“The past EP was definitely just a collection of music, but this album is structured, the songs are in order, it sounds cool, and all of the songs relate to the theme of the album,” said lead singer Adam Wilson.

Riggs described their previous music as more experimental, and he believes their sound became better as they progressed. With this album, he said they are “continuing the upward trend and making better music.”

To celebrate the release of their debut record, the band hosted an album release party at Eastside Tavern that included a live show, lots of drinking, laughing and lively music.

After about an hour of soundcheck, the clock struck 7 p.m., and the doors were flooded with college students and Columbia locals alike trying to see the band. In an instant, Eastside Tavern went from an empty bar to a full-on concert venue.

Longtime fan and supporter of the band Angie Busby attended the event and said that she has “seen the development and evolution of their sound.”

Busby used to work with the band before it was known as “Ruby Lane,” playing music for them and even doing their social media. Now, she dates Forrest Wilson, another guitarist in the band, and admires their current music.

“I really like how they aren’t afraid to deviate from the standards of music,” Busby said. “Nowadays you hear a lot of pop, you hear a lot of rap, and all that’s cool, but they really bring back the roots of rock music.”

After another hour of drinks clinking and laughter from both fans and the band alike, Ruby Lane took to the stage to begin their set.

Wilson, the lead singer, started off with a familiar crowd-pleaser as he energetically asked if they were ready for the band to begin. After a lackluster response from the crowd, Wilson asked again to make sure the audience was prepared for what was to come.

After an adequate amount of yells from the crowd, the band began their set. They played a few of their older songs along with tracks from their brand new album. During the breaks between the songs, the band promoted their album, which was released on Spotify that evening.

By the end of their set, a line out the door had formed. Though Eastside Tavern limited the attendance of the show, Ruby Lane achieved what most artists can only dream of: a full house.

Despite challenges presented by the pandemic, the band has been able to create, perform their music and share their art with a wider platform. When giving advice to other artists who may have similar struggles, Wilson said to “just do it.”

While many musicians deal with the dilemma of perfection, Anderson said this should not hinder an artists’ drive to create.

“Stop trying to make everything perfect,” Anderson said. “Your first song and your next 1,000 songs are never going to be perfect, so stop trying to make them be.”

Anderson said to stop rushing perfection because intuition will tell the artist when their work is complete.

“If you were painting a picture, when are you finally going to go, ‘Okay it’s done?’” Anderson said.

To check out Ruby Lane and their music, search their name on Spotify. They are on Instagram as @Rubylane573 and their Facebook is “Ruby Lane Band.”

_Edited by Angelina Edwards | aedwards@themaneater.com_