I went to quite a few UNFORGETTABLE concerts in 2002. Here's a rundown...

#1
janet jackson's all for you world tour 2002
grand rapids, mi - van andel arena (1-30-2002)
Ticket price: 65.00
Hands down, THE BEST CONCERT OF MY LIFE. Amazing spectacle, huge set, dancing incredible. Everything you could want in an industry show. And my dream came true that night, I met Janet. She took me onstage during her "Would You Mind" segment. I can't f***g believe Janet took me onstage! PLUS, THE SHOW WAS 2 DAYS BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY! That was the best birthday present of all time. To meet my idol, oh dear god, I still can't believe that happened to me. I still have flashbacks from it and my body goes numb! I can't believe she put me on the "Janet Live in Hawaii" DVD either -- that is crazy. I will never forget it. My "Would You Mind" experience with Janet is on the "Janet Live in Hawaii DVD." Look for me. She sent me a card in the mail that read, "With Compliments -- Janet Jackson." I almost cried.

#2
meshell ndegeocello
hollywood, ca - the roxy (6-2002)
Ticket Price: 25.00 (but I got in for free)
Meshell is awe-inspiring live. She performed all the songs I love from her 4 albums. Plus, during quite a few points in the show, the music was so transcendent that my eyes started to water and tears fell from my eyes. It was such a beautiful concert, and that band! Dear god they were jamming. I met Meshell afterwards and she was very humble and signed my Cookie CD. I have never been to a concert like that before. It was so aural and the vibe was so good.

#3
n.e.r.d. with special guests kelis, kenna & spymob
hollywood, ca - house of blues (6-2002)
Ticket Price: 20.00 (bought from scalper)
Great, hyper, live show. They performed all their hits. The crowd was very ecclectic (some rock heads, some hip hop heads, pop heads, etc.) So many young kids there and different races, it was like the rainbow coalition in there. Different. Kelis was the highlight for me. She sung "Popular Thug" and "Junkie" plus she autographed my Wanderland CD. My favorite part of the show is when I waved my "Wanderland" CD in the air to her onstage and she responded back with "I see you baby! I love you! Thank you!" That was great! Visit my Kelis site @ http://www.geocities.com/kelisfan

#4
alana davis
hollywood, ca - the roxy (8-2002)
Ticket price: 10.00
Alana performed a solo acoustic set. It was very intimate. She talked with the audience and sung a variety of songs from her two albums -- Blame It On Me & Fortune Cookies. I was so happy to see her because I never have. It was such a geeking experience for me. She looked at me several times and winked at me when I applauded her after announcing she was leaving Elektra Records. Also, she's so real. Some idiot was being rude and was holding a conversation at the bar totally being rude while Alana was onstage performing. So she stop her song, told them to be quiet and gave them the finger. We all applauded!! WAY TO GO, Alana! Wish she had a band backing her so the songs would sound extra amazing. But just seeing her live was all I needed. When she sung "Easy To Love" (one of my all time favorite Alana songs) tears started to formulate (I notice I cry a lot at shows..lol).

#5
res
hollywood, ca - key club (7-2002)
Ticket price: FREE show
I thought I was never going to make it to this show because I got lost on the freeway and didn't know where the Key Club was. I got to the show extra late and I thought I had missed everything, but I didn't! She was so great live! Her band was working overtime and were cranking out the jams. She sang all her songs from "How I Do" and a worthy rendition of AC/DC's "Back In Black." She wore a belly-bearing mid-rift shirt. I loved "They-Say Vision" live and I got free stuff, so it was a nice show. CAN'T BEAT A FREE GIG, man.

#6
meshell ndegeocello
detroit, mi - st. andrew's hall (11-2-2002)
Ticket Price: 20.00
The second time I saw Meshell in a year. It was a great show. The vibe was wonderful and Meshell delivered as always. It was the first time I took my friend to see Meshell and he loved it. I loved "Fellowship" and "God.Fear.Money." Great concert! I even met K'Alyn.

I WILL NEVER, NEVER EVER FORGET THESE SHOWS. THESE WERE SOME OF THE BEST CONCERTS OF MY DAMN LIFE!
[This message was edited Sun Jan 12 23:42:22 PST 2003 by JANFAN4L]

#1 Bowie @ Roseland Ballroom

He played the entire "Low" and "Heathen" (2 of the best albums ever) and a killer encore. Plus, it was my first Bowie show, my first time in New York, and my first visit with a fellow orger. Choc is my hero!

#2 Prince, Celebration Night 5

Possibly the most amazing set I've ever seen by the man- All the Critics, Something in the Water, Elephants and Flowers, Beautiful Strange, need I go on. High energy and way funky. My first night there.

#3 Prince, Celebration Night 7

And emotional experience climaxing with "God". I cried my eyes out after a highly emotional and exciting week. Everyone there really touched me and Prince was the perfect host. What a guy.

#4 N.E.R.D.

What a throw down! Everyone knew all the words. Everyone danced their asses off. For being uber-producers, they sure translated their ideas and sound well in a live setting. I hope that this isn't just a one-off.

#5 Prince, One Nite Alone

Great band. Great song selection. Great performance. I'm glad he left the dancers, choreography, gimmicks and props behind. And I love how he's always with an instrument. This show really spoke to me the first time I saw it. And I'm glad that there's an official document of it in the form of ONAL. Prince is back in rare form.

honorable mention- New Order's Retro Disc 4. Even though many of the performances are years old, it's still exciting to listen to. I must see them soon.

Prince - Three Nights Alone in D.C., One Night Alone in NY, and One Night Alone in Kansas City

Unfortuantely my move from Phoenix to L.A. was the same week P did those two cities and was unable to afford/attend so I cant add P to my 2002 concerts list but here we go...

1-NIKKA COSTA (3//02) House of Blues-Las Vegas
Quite possibly the best young performer around! She rocked, she funked, she rolled, she screamed, she trashed her red hair around the stage and mixed "Everybody Got Their Something" with "I Wanna Take You Higher"...stunning...I'm still not over that show!

2-COLDPLAY (9/02) Open Air Arena, San Diego
Amazing...the best band out right now! They even did a piano rendidtion of Nelly's "Hot In Herre"...

3-NORAH JONES (Summer '02) Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
Just before she broke wide open...It was a great show...very sultry, very innocent...and I got to meet her too! She deserves all the success she gets...

4-ROLLING STONES w/Sheryl Crow (11/2)Edison Field, Anaheim
My first Stones show and it rocked! I almost passed out when they began playing "Sweet Virginia"...my favorite Stones song...Sheryl Crow was awesome too...she joined the Stones for "Honky Tonk Woman"

I have more but I gotta go...be back later!