‘I’m Not a Bum’: Veteran Spends Days ‘Busking’ Out Tunes on Oceanside Pier

Steve Davidson spends several hours a week as a busker—the term used to describe street performers who accept tips—on the Oceanside Pier spreading good vibes.

Davidson, a 14-year Oceanside resident who previously served in the military, situated himself on a bench near the entrance to the pier on March 6, strumming his acoustic guitar and singing Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.”

“I’m not a bum,” says the clean-shaven Davidson who was wearing an Oceanside sweatshirt, jeans and deck shoes. "You can create a positive or negative energy in life."