“Melon Jelly makes Southern swampy blues with soul-searching electric groovin’ vibes in songs that ask for absolution, with hat in hand, and proclaim love out loud.”

- Jason Airy, Americana Highways

Named 2025 Band of the Year by Doc’s Blues Awards in the UK, Texas based Melon Jelly dishes out a swampy, soulful gumbo of blues, funk, and retro rock. Winners of the 2024 Houston Blues Challenge and Quarterfinalists at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, the band has been captivating listeners around the world!  Melon Jelly features Stephen Droddy on drums, Chuck Pierce on bass, and Mark "Nessie" Nesmith on guitars and vocals. Their debut CD “The Road to Memphis” dropped February 7th, 2025, claiming the #15 slot on the Billboard Magazine Blues Albums Chart and other top music charts worldwide.

A seasoned live performer and session recording drummer, Stephen Droddy has toured nationally and recorded and produced numerous artists. Stephen is endorsed by Samsun Cymbals USA, Homer made custom drums,  salyers percussion, deaf and drum drum caddies, and thumpin' custom beaters. he is the founder of Droddy music group in galveston, tx.  

chuck pierce brings five decades of bass experience to the stage. from his time with the popular blues outfit Dickie and the tornados to the night and day big band orchestra, the acoustic roots rock and pop group ward, pierce and Steinman, and his own jazz group The quartet, chuck dishes out melodic grooves to any style music on electric and upright bass. 

Mark "Nessie" Nesmith’s solo CD “A Sinner’s Prayer” was the Houston Blues Society choice for the best Self-Produced CD of 2024. Mark is an accomplished singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist. He’s performed as a solo artist and with multiple bands on stages throughout the USA including the House of Blues, the Levitt Pavilion, the historic Stagecoach Ballroom, coyote ugly, and Remington Park Casino. Mark’s music has been heard on numerous television and radio shows including Fox 4 & the CW's Jim King of the Road Show and the long running syndicated series Texas Country Reporter. His artwork is found in more than 30 states and has been featured in national and international publications. in 2026 he was selected to join the prestigious recording academy as a voting member.