reviews| Mark Messam’s End of Story is solid roots music
24 Jan 2008 | A.K.A., Contributing Writer

ARTISTE: Mark Messam
VIDEO: End of the Story

They’re already calling him Rhode Island’s finest. Mark Messam, the Jamaican-born Pawtucket, RI resident, has quickly made a name for himself with his sweet reggae harmonies and infectious melodies that capture the essence of roots rock music.

Messam is the son of a talented singer-songwriter. He grew up in St. Elizabeth, dubbed the ‘bread basket of Jamaica’, where at the age of six years old, he started singing in church. He migrated with his brothers to the United States several years later but his love for reggae music burned still. He recorded his LP, Higher and Higher with producer Doctor X, and followed up that effort with One Man produced by Djim Job which was released on the Stereophonic label.

Messam has performed on stage shows in the New York, New England and the DC Metro area, making a name for himself one stage show at a time. He has built up a great catalogue of songs with well-produced efforts such as No Politics, How Long, and End of Story. The single End of Story, on the One Man album is one of his finer efforts. It is a song that is carved in reggae oak – solid.

With a catchy singalong hook that sticks to the brain, Mark shows that he has an ear for melodies. He sings: End of the story, come and hold me/End of the story, say you love me, never leave me, end of story. The song’s theme is driven home by an artfully conceived video. The video begins with Messam walking into a corner store and spotting a sexy young lady who returns his interested gaze. Sparks automatically fly between the two. An obviously love struck Mark drools all over the girl, while absentmindedly picking up items. The girl, too, is caught gazing and an enraged customer, frustrated because she is ignoring him, storms out of the store.

Eventually, Mark comes over to her, and she gives him a coy glance, and he walks away. But once outside the story, he realizes that he cannot walk away without giving her name or her number, and returns inside, much to the frustration of his friend. Later, they hook up and hug, and the chemistry is almost palpable between the two.

The camera jumps from the store scene to shots of Mark Messam deejaying against a city skyline in front of an SUV, and then driving in the SUV.

It is not often that a singer of Mark Messam’s class comes along, but it is clear that this singer will be around for years to come.

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