Melon Jelly – The Road to Memphis
Self – Produced
11 Tracks – 44 minutes
In 2024, bandleader Mark “Nessie” Nesmith self-produced a solo album, A Sinner’s Prayer, which was selected by the Houston Blues Society as their choice for Best Self-Produced CD for the International Blues Challenge. Now in 2025, Mark returns with a full band and a new album. The band in turn was selected by the Houston Blues Society to be their representative at the 2025 IBC in Memphis in January. Mark provides vocals and plays guitar and keyboards on the album. He is backed by Stephen Droddy on drums and backing vocals, and Jason McCollum on bass. All are seasoned pros with years of experience with multiple Texas-based bands. Haley Deaver Droddy is also listed as providing additional vocals.
The oddly named band was revealed to have the root of their name from a 1973 episode of the tv series Sanford & Son titled The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection in which Fred Sanford keeps playing old blues records by a band called Blind Mellow Jelly. Mark had a fond remembrance for the show and that particular episode and thus gave the band the name. (Thanks to Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro for providing that answer to the question I had searched for across the band’s web site).
Those of us who are growing older can appreciate the opening song “Time Is a Thief” as Mark acknowledges “one day you’re just a little kid, next day you’re dyin’…you can’t beat time, time always wins in the end”. A gospel sounding background punctuates the solemnity of the rocking melancholy song and ends with a ticking clock and an alarm sounding. On a smooth “Angel”, Mark identifies that “Somewhere in between this life and a dream stands an angel runnin’ with the devil. She sees all my sins. She helps me be a better man”. He continues that story in “So Many Years” as he notes “It’s hard to believe you still believe in me after all I put you through”. and promises “to make it all up someday”. Mark’s guitar resounds in a very sincere groove with his keyboards sliding along quietly in the background.
The band shifts into a sightly funky groove as he asks her to “Hold on to Me” so I won’t be lonely no more”. “There is no one else but you”. After a smooth start in the opening songs, the title song revs up with a car engine and the band is burning up the roadway in a shaking instrumental on “The Road to Memphis”. “Where Y’At” notes he has looked all over town, “You don’t want to be found” and he “is almost out of gas” in his search.
“Should I Stay, or Should I Go?” is a shuffle as Mark states, “Every time I call your name it’s the same old thing, like I’m talking to myself, like I’m just playing games”, all of which seems to answer his question. “This Life” takes on an ominous tone as he tells the story, “There is a boy taught hard to be a man, speaks with his fists. No one understands there is so much more to live for in this life” and “a girl just 15, hustling down on the corner. She can’t believe she’s worth more than a twenty-dollar bill”. Mark is in a melancholy mood as he expresses loneliness after she has only been gone “Three Days”, noting “every day you have been gone has been an eternity, please come back home”.
On “Prodigal Blues”, Mark is looking back noting “Eighteen years, maybe more since I have seen your shadow darkening my door, but it’s all right you are always welcome in my home”. There is no certainty in the song to whom the person is he is referencing, but he is offering a welcome return and encouraging them to stay. The album concludes with “Old Habits” with another funky groove as Mark lists the things they used to do as a couple but that he continues to do now that he is all alone. Haley joins him on vocals as he reflects on the pain and loneliness he is experiencing.
The album’s back cover adds a note that the album is “Dedicated to our beautiful wives Christina, Elizabeth, and Haley for their unwavering love and support”. The love songs are obviously part of that dedication. Mark’s guitar delivery is not flashy, but he does an excellent job of establishing the mood of the songs, which is something many guitarists cannot do. An overall enjoyable listen.
