Ever wonder what a band gets up to once they’ve survived their maiden voyage across the Pacific to the hallowed land of the U.S.A? Melbourne’s adored psychedelic-garage rockers, Rostyon Vasie, have provided the first instalment of their 2013 photo diary.

Riding on the success of their debut full-length release Tanah Merhah, the band have taken to The United States in pursuit of recording their sophomore record as well as performing at the revered CMJ Festival in New York City. Dig their West Coast escapades.

Day 1

“I bought your album on iTunes! And I run a Mexican record label, can I sign you?” This is the first thing that happens when we land in L.A. He’s the customs officer. We’d heard all the horror stories of Australian bands flying 14 hours only to be denied entry because of VISA complications. Looks like we got lucky! We pick up our sweet hire car, “The Dodge”, which will be home for the next two weeks.


(Left:“So where to begin exactly?” Right: “Look how fast we go?”)

We drive on the wrong side of the road to Venice Beach. We’re renting an apartment from a Parisian dude named Davis who makes old furniture out of vintage crates. Looks good…but there’s nowhere comfortable to sit or sleep. We walk the Santa Monica Boulevard to the pier, head out to a killer Italian restaurant and retire at a reasonable hour.

Day 2

Our second day arrives with sunny skies and breakfast burritos and then it begins – the Royston guitar buying mission from God. We head to a cool vintage music shop called Time Warp who have stacks of great old gear and awesome dudes running the place. If you’re in the area we highly recommend a visit.

The sight seeing begins with a token photo shoot in front of the Hollywood sign (this shot was actually taken about 2kms away as you can’t get near the thing without being threatened with arrest by an unseen man with a megaphone…we tried).

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(“Hollywood”)

We check out Sunset Boulevard, take in the Lycra pants, permed hair, bad food joints and traffic. Time and Donut King get away from us so it’s out to a killer Japanese restaurant and a local Santa Monica bar for good times and pickle back hangovers all round.

Day 3

Involves yet more guitar-shopping, heading to a store called Norms in Tarzana: The home of the one and only


(“She rules where no man could”)

It’s then a hop, skip and 2 hour drive through the worst traffic imaginable back to Hollywood to check out the Guitar Centre and Leigh is feeling saucy today and coughs up for a 72 Olympic white Fender Strat


(“Not today, my good man”)

The rest of the evening is spent celebrating said purchase at the Rainbow Bar and Grill over the biggest pizza ever made (although this is nothing on New York) we then head to Harvard &Stone to check out a local L.A. band – man these guys really wail (not). After this it’s finally off to the Body Shop to check out the local dancing talent, not bad, not bad at all.


(“Free Parking”)

Day 4 & 5

We are up at the crack of dawn and not feeling too sparkly for the drive to San Francisco, which is just fucking amazing. We hire bikes and cruise around the city (eat some clam chowder) and head through town to Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park where there is a Bluegrass Festival in full swing. Then it’s off to Amoeba Record Store, the largest in the world!


(“Golden Gate Times”)

Day 6

We drive from San Fran to Portland to complete one of our main aims of the tour: to record our second LP at Revolver Studios in Portland with Collin Hegna, the bass player of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and one hell of an engineer and multi-instrumentalist to boot.


(“In Russian”)

Day 7

We had four days to complete our mission and wondered if it would be possible, but with Collin behind the controls and the amazing gear we had at arms reach, that’s exactly what happened. We recorded drums and bass on 10 tracks during the first day with Brad using an old Fender Bassman combo and Dave recording with a vintage 70s Yamaha kit which both sounded sick:

Day 8 & 9

The second and third day we spent laying down a great selection of vintage guitars including a Gibson 335, early 60s Harmony and Vox 12 string.

Day 10

The final day we recorded percussion and harmonies and Collin made a start on mixing. With the recording finished and everyone happy we headed out for our first show in the US of A at Kelly’s Olympian, downtown.

(“Billed above Bruce Springsteen”)

Zia McCabe from the Dandy Warhol’s was DJ’ing and we got to catch up with our good friend Brent DeBoer (Fathead) and all had such a smashing time decided to head to Magic Gardens for a nightcap.

(“Don’t eat here”)

Day 11 & 12

It’s time for a for a 90s grunge revival so we hit the road to Seattle and then off to a psych fest to check out Night Beats (killer band) and other assorted freaked out offerings. We spend the next day site-seeing and head to the Experience Music Project, very cool museum with heaps of history on Jimmy Hendrix, Nirvana and the birth of grunge.

Day 13

Up early and running late, so we rush to the airport and can’t seem to pay for the hire car which no one seems to care about so neither do we so it’s all aboard and off to New York City & CMJ yeew! Stay tuned for Royston Vasie’s All American Adventures Pt. 2 The East Coast and beyond.