Pier Plaza Amphitheater

Looking for a place to listen to music ?
Looking for a place to run stairs ?
Look for a place to meet up for a boot camp?
Looking for a place to stretch or workout with lots of room?
Looking for a place to go to regularly scheduled events ?
Looking for a place to see a high school graduation with ocean back drop?
Looking for a place to to just hang out and watch the ocean and still have a place right next door for s ire to eat ?
This is it!!!

I’ve lived in San Diego most of my life, but had never been to the Pier Plaza Amphitheater before until yesterday. My friends and I went to 94/9’s Independence Jam (Phantogram, Bad Suns, Walk the Moon, Joywave, J Roddy Walston, Wild Cub, and Little Hurricane). You have to walk down the cement stadium-​type seating to get down to the stages. The first stage was main stage. There were some beverage tents and a food truck. If you walk to the left, you get to the second mini stage with more food and beverage tents/​trucks. There were some ATM machines but the merchants took card also. Bathrooms were in between the two stages. There were about 4 stalls for ladies. There were also porta potties located around the stages.
It’s a really nice venue with the pier to your right (and VIP seating up there in white plastic chairs), the water behind the main stage (you can see the waves coming in), some grass to the side, and plenty of dancing room if that’s what you wanted to do. I was tired from the heat so we opted to sit down most of the show. (If it’s hot out, bring sunglasses and a hat! There’s not really any shade here.) They blocked off the two middle sections for VIP guests. Now these seats were the only real con to this event. Imagine cement type seating with a tiny bleacher-​like back rest. I have a tiny behind and I could barely sit on that thing! It was very uncomfortable since you had to sit completely up right (though this would be good to perfect your posture…) I wish they had extended the cement block out about 6 inches (there was plenty of room to do that) and extend the back rest up a couple of inches. A lot of veterans knew to bring seat cushions and towels to sit on, but since we were newbs, we had no idea.
So all in all, the scenery was great, the sound was good, the heat was almost unbearable but that’s not their fault, the music/​show was great, and the seating (if you choose to be a grandma like me) was terrible if you don’t come prepared. So if you find yourself here, don’t forget to bring sunscreen, shades, hat, towel/​cushion, etc. and you’ll have a grand ol’ time.

***94.9 Independence Jam 2014 09.7.2014***
We arrived there a little early never know what to expect from a new venue I am going to… Sun was crazy hot and I am sure I will suffer with sunburn on my rosy cheeks.
The scene was absolutely beautiful. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing, and the birds were chirping all on a Sunday afternoon. For the first part Hubbs and me were in search for shade. We found some at the VIP cold beer stand. Since we were VIP after we bought some water we just chatted and waited a while. The clouds started to do their job as they covered the harmonious but heated. We sat down and made ourselves comfy.
First act: Little Hurricane
Anthony «Tone» Catalano and drummer Celeste «C.C.» Spina. They were a great music duo, they definitely brought something unique and different to the music table. In one of the songs they brought out a horn sections which was cool! The sun was hot, but we were on the far far right bleachers where their were fragments of shade and we watched as Little hurricane performed. After the performance they walked right by, and in a way she reminded me of a more active/​talented Meg White. We got to say how mush we liked their performance, they were real down to earth, and chill.
Second Act: Wild Cub
Keegan DeWitt, Jeremy Bullock, Dabney Morris, Harry West, and Eric Wilson. We did not get to see this band, I opted out to stay in the shade. It was still freaken’ hot.
Third Act: J Roddy Walston and the Business
J Roddy Walston, Billy Gordon, Logan Davis, and Steve Colmus.
I really loved this band– they reminded of me a southern rock band — Almost like CCR/​Alabama/​Lynyrd Skynyrd. They had mind blowing music and their songs were right on. I am really glad I got to hear this band… I heard their name thrown around– but never really heard any of their stuff. I am for sure going to their next show. I love how J Roddy used the piano and how all the members gave an energetically rock solid performance.
Fourth Act: Joywave
Everyone liked Joywave, including me– The bands includes Daniel Armbruster, Joseph Morinelli, Sean Donnelly, Benjamin Bailey, and Paul Brenner. This band was for sure different. They had a lot of beats, lots of dancing, and non-​stop entertainment. I like their performance because everyone in the crowd seem to be captured in this musically display of happiness. I really dug their sound.
Fifth Act: Walk the Moon
I liked the song «Anna Sun» who is a real person… I was living in Austin, Texas. It reminds me of good memories and of course they played this song last! The whole act was amazing. They had flown from OH to take the place of Ms. Mr who had to cancel unfortunately. These guys– Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman, Eli Maiman are like wizards of music, they kept conjuring up FUN. So much fire, so much pizzazz, so much feeling, so much energy… I was really glad that I saw them live. I was glad that they came to San Diego, even though they had a busy schedule, they were above 5 star material. I was rocking and rolling along side of them. The band rocked.
Sixth Act: Bad Suns
I don’t know what to say about this band. Christo Bowman, Gavin Bennett, Miles Kottak, and Ray Libby except that they were definitely cutie pies. Lead Singer reminded me of of cross between James Dean/​Elvis Presley, and Oingo Boingo first lead singer Richard Elfman. The people seemed to be fans of his and the music was good.
Last Act: Phantogram
OMG!!! There were so good Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, I can not even believe that I got a chance to see them in concert. I had been waiting for the last several months to see them. Here I was in the last bleacher singing and dancing my little heart out. Sarah with her sweet voice and dance moves, no beat was left abandon. Josh rocked out as well. It was an evening to remember. The light show was incredible — -NOTE*** if you have epilepsy do not go to their shows constant lights flashing and lots of strobes. ***
I enjoyed the show, they are great live. They know how to preform flawlessly!
I loved seeing the angry ocean and the silver moon peeking through the massive clouds above. I was wearing a white t-​shirt and shorts, and I was not cold. not one bit. I really enjoyed this venue… It was nice to participate in a sold-​out concert on the beach watching the sunset and the waves crash to some of my favorite bands.

98.1 smooth fm concert
Jon B, Color Me Badd and Tony Toni Tone.
To bad there was no sun :-(hence the 4stars.

Took family (8 of us) down to the pier for July 4^th weekend on Saturday. The amphitheater was having a Samoan Celebration– Lucky Us! Music and message was Amazing! We will definitely be putting on the calendar as a not to be missed for next year! The free show was the cherry on top! Perfect for our family celebration. We attend Easter Service here and love it. Have also attended paid concerts as well. It is not a huge venue so when you go to a paid concert you are never too far away– they are definitely not big names, so not that expensive– but when you get older the bands you like from teenage years, tend to be at smaller venues and this one is just awesome right at the beach!

Fun venue for a concert. Came here for 94.9 Summer #SPF Concert with Matt and Kim and Capital Cities. Loved it. especially for the price!

Hate that they change the name to honor someone who shot himself. Shows are kids a bad example. But I’ve been to lots of graduations here. The venue is beautiful for being a public outside place. Such an amazing view.

K so all kinds of awesome stuff takes place here throughout the summer. Best thing about this place is the steps and running them. Great place to run steps and get a work out.

I love the Junior Seau Memorial Amphitheater. It’s great to get some food or ice cream and sit in the stands to watch the local kids bike/​skateboard and do their tricks. People use the stairs to exercise, and there are bathrooms here if you need to stop by from the beach or the pier. The location is absolutely beautiful.
There are assorted events here throughout the year. Outdoor movies, concerts, religious services and the like, however I feel this is one part of Oceanside that’s completely underused. If the parks department had more money, or maybe better management, they could get more regular events here and really encourage us residents to come together as a community more. I know it’s a dream in this economy, but I love our town, and places like this are gems to be enjoyed, not just brought out once a month (at best) to show off.

It’s a amphitheater… on the beach. On a gorgeous San Diego beach! 98.1 hosted a Boyz II Men concert that was great (aside from the blazing sun, and the horribly long wait for them to hit the stage… but should I complain about sunny weather and the fact they wanted the concert to end right at sunset? Maybe not…). Loved walked down the Oceanside pier afterwards!

VERDICT: Wonderful California beach sunset backdrop. Ample parking locations. Scenic. Eclectic local downtown shops.
QUALIFIER: Watched the annual Boyz II Men concert. VERY rude audience demanding the trio perform, bc the audience was exhausted from waiting in long entry line, unshaded seating area. Event narks wouldn’t let people in and out to local food vendors, but it works bc vendors were willing to deal over the fence.
FOOD: Damed expensive, just went to the cart vendors through the fence.
SERVICE: Ok, didn’t use porter potty.

Got to Support our Local Area!!! its a place for everyone!

METRIC:
My casbah was rocked
My thighs trembled
Emily Haynes… Your f*cked-up sexy

For the life of me, I don’t understand why more good shows don’t go down at the pier in Oceanside.
Just checked out the ⁹⁴⁄₄ Independence Jam with Black Keys, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more… and it was absolutely remarkable. Great layout, awesome sound, and an even better setting with the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean and a setting sun in the background. Aaaaaahhhhh. Exactly what you’d expect from an outdoor show in San Diego.
Growing up in the North County, I’m accustomed to summer pops-​type symphony crap finding a home here, as well as local theater productions small scale events. But after tonight, I sure hope the city of Oceanside realizes the potential money-​maker this venue can be.
Of course, it’s a bit of a trek for city slickers to make the drive from the 619, but it’s well worth it for a fabulous evening of great music. Let’s cross our fingers that it’s not the last good show I’ll see there!