For the last ten years, my son has played soccer. Three boys have been in every team with my son over that time. The parents of one of those boys are Dave and Nicole Warner. The sideline banter with the Warners and Stewart and Richard and the bacon and egg with lot are the standout of those 10 years (and the occasional screamer from my son).
People of a vintage five to ten years older than me and who enjoyed their Australian rock’n’roll more quickly associate Dave Warner the musician than Dave Warner the cricketer. In 1978, Dave and his band the Suburbs had a hit with (Just a) Surburban Boy and he toured as a part of that epic era of Australian pub rock’roll. But he is far from a one-hit wonder. Dave played in Australia’s first punk band PUS in the early 70s, he lived and worked as a muso in the UK and then slogged his guts in the late 70s and early 80s with the Suburbs. His wit, his lyrics and his band still draw a crowd (with notice), and it was a pleasure to watch the original Suburbs (less one deceased member) play the whole of the Mug’s Game Album. Naturally the evening culminated with Suburban Boy and an epic modern version of Mug’s Game.
Dave played in a venue next to Cronulla Train station called The Brass Monkey. It is an intimate venue – kind of like a supper club and different to the beer soaked halls of the 80s Dave and the Suburbs would have plied their trade. Just perfect to be up close and watch five absolute professionals ply their trade. All were magnificent, but special hats off to Howie the drummer who, clad in a white Bonds singlet and King Gee work pants relentlessly drove the Suburbs onwards throughout the gig. Dave is a wordsmith of the highest order (he has written award winning novels, movie scripts and screenplays for television shows) and his anecdotes between songs were just fabulous.
The next time he tours, I’m there.
I arrived too early for the gig and sought sustenance after a long public transport commute. It was slim pickings until I spotted the unlikely Mia’s German Beerhall. What a venue. It is a narrow but deep room with simple long tables and benches (like a Beerhall).
My ticket at Brass Monkey included food, but I felt bad not ordering something to eat at Mia’s. I ordered a $13.80 starter of Leberkäse, thinking that would be small. There are five taps of genuine German beer including Helles and Weissbier. The owner offered me a taster and steered me in the direction of a Dunkel. Out come the Leberkäse. Absolutely ridiculous. 4 passport sized slabs of German meatloaf on a small mountain of mash potato and gravy. Absolutely ridiculously sized serving. Leverkäse was remarkable though and with sweet Bavarian mustard, it was a winner. If in Cronulla, Mia’s German Beerhall is the go.
The Brass Monkey: 115a Cronulla Street, Cronulla NSW
Mia’s German Beerhall: 2/45 Gerrale Street, Cronulla NSW
back of the ferry 