Matthew Marcus McDaniel at Texas Music City Grill and Smokehouse

The artist

Matthew Marcus McDaniel is a Texas singer-songwriter who grew up in East Texas and now works out of Austin, performing as a one-man band, one that layers foot percussion over acoustic and electric guitar and harmonica. His sound blends raw rock and roll with blues, soul, and Americana, music he describes as music you can feel. After releasing his solo debut Last Look Back in 2010, he spent years fronting the band Thieves of Sunrise, then returned to the road as a solo performer, touring in the United States and Brazil. A Sunday night in Mount Vernon is a smaller room than he usually plays, and those are often the best ones.

The venue

Texas Music City Grill and Smokehouse in Mount Vernon has been building a reputation as a live music destination, booking regional and national touring acts that might otherwise skip a town its size. The room combines a full restaurant and bar with a dedicated stage, and the kitchen leans into Texas-style smoked meats and comfort food. It is the kind of place where the music calendar has something worth driving for most weekends.

The drive from the property

Mount Vernon sits about fifteen minutes west of the property. Texas Music City Grill is on the main drag through town, easy to find and with convenient parking. A mid-December Sunday show makes a nice cap on a weekend visit: walk the 8 acres in the daylight, then finish the evening with live music just down the road.