About 2XG

*Paul Steward selected Honoree of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts YBCA 100 List, San Francisco, March 2023.

*Nominated for the 2022 Native American Music Awards Blues Album of the Year, for the album "Double Down", New York, May 2022.

*Featured Performer at the Native Contemporary Arts Festival "When I See Red" by the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento CA, October 2019.

*Chronicled in the “Native American Almanac: More Than 50,000 Years of the Cultures and Histories of Indigenous Peoples” as notable performing artists, by Y. Dennis, A. Hirschfelder, S. Flynn, April 2016.

*Winners of the 2016 North Bay Music Awards by the North Bay Bohemian newspaper, Blues/R&B Band category, August 2016.

*Semi-Finalists in the 32nd annual International Blues Challenge, Memphis TN, January 2016.

*Representing the Clear Lake Blues Society, Lake County California, in the 2016 International Blues Challenge, November 2015.

*Nominated for the 14th Independent Music Awards, Blues Album category, for CD "That's All I Need", Clifton NJ, March 2015.

*Featured on SiriusXM-BB King's Bluesville station, album "That's All I Need", September 2014.

*Winners of the Silicon Valley Blues Society Band Challenge, San Jose CA, November 2014.

*Nominated for the 15th Annual Native American Music Awards, "Back To Clearlake Oaks" CD. New York, 2014.

*Headlining Band at the Living Earth Festival by the National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC, July 2014.

*Featured at the National Museum of the American Indian "Native Sounds Downtown" Concert Series, New York City NY, July 2014.

*Featured article in the Press Democrat, TimeOut section (Arts & Entertainment), Santa Rosa CA, March 7th, 2014.

*Winner of the Blues Category at the 10th Annual Indian Summer Music Awards, CD "Back To Clearlake Oaks", Milwaukee WI, September 2013.

*Great CD Review in Living Blues Magazine for album "Back To Clearlake Oaks", USA, December 2012.

*Headlining Band at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, Scottsdale AZ, April 2012.

*Headlining Band at the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming American Indian Day Festival, Miami FL, September 2011.

*Featured article in the San Francisco Chronicle Datebook (Arts & Entertainment), San Francisco CA, January 9th, 2011.

*Winners of the "Best Blues Recording" Award, 2010, the Native American Music Awards, album "If That's All Right With You", Niagara Falls NY, November 2010.

*Winners of the Last Band Standing Competition at Pala Casino Resort, Oceanside CA, October 2010.

*Awarded the "Best New Blues Band" Award by the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame, Oakland CA, March 2010.

*Showcased band in the River Rock Casino T.V. commercial, Northern California, September 2009.

*Featured Showcase Entertainment for the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas NV, November 2008.

*KBSC-TV Recorded Concert Broadcasts, live at Everett's Bar & Club, Crescent City CA, June 2008.

*Nominated for an "Outstanding Musical Achievement" award by First Americans in the Arts, Beverly Hills CA, March 2008.

*On the cover of "News From Native California" magazine, Fall 2007 issue, Berkeley CA, October 2007.

*Winners of the "Battle of the Bands" at Coyote Valley Casino, Redwood Valley CA, November 2004.

Short Biography

Version 1:

Twice As Good, Paul & Rich Steward, the Son and Father Native American Ultimate Blues Duo! 2010 Nammy Award winners, this Soulful and Rockin' Rhythm and Blues team was birthed on the Pomo Indian lands of the Elem Indian Colony reservation, carrying that Native beat, and having traveled worldwide with their pristine mesmerizing sound.

Version 2:

Twice As Good, also known by their acronym 2XG, is Paul & Richard Steward, the son & father, Native American, ultimate blues duo. They perform a blend of Blues, Soul, R&B, Rock & Roll, with a hint of the Indian beat. Sweet screaming guitar and soulful vocals.

Full Biography

Medium biography:

Twice As Good, Paul & Rich Steward, the Son and Father Native American Ultimate Blues Duo! Pomo Indians of Elem Indian Colony on the shores of Clear Lake, California, they have taken their brand of pristine mesmerizing R&B from the reservation to the radio station. The internationally touring, multi-award-winning, generational-team has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and was proudly recorded in the Native American Almanac. Known for their Blues and R&B hits like "Clarksdale," "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You," "Back To Clearlake Oaks," "Everything's Gonna Be All Right," and "Dance With Me," as well as their entertaining show of classic R&B and Blues in which they revive the spirits of B.B. King, Muddy Waters, the Temptations, Al Green, the O'Jays, and rock the dancefloor all night with hip-hop grooves from Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Will Smith, Usher, and more. Paul is notable for his incredibly soulful voice and amazing range, hitting both high and low notes with ease and a powerful gospel shout; and picking the fiery lead-guitar reminiscent of Luther Allison. Rich, holds down the rock-steady rhythm guitar like a hammer with his arms strumming as strong as steel, all the while shouting back-up vocals. This father-son team works together as naturally as bread and butter and watch each others' back through thick and thin, on-stage and off. With more new recordings in the works, keep an eye out for 2XG on the road as they carve their path grounded in the tradition and eyes on the future; bringing you the finest in Blues and R&B entertainment.

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Detailed biography:

Twice As Good, or their acronym 2XG, is the professional name of the music duo formed by Paul Anthony Steward (Son, born 1984) and Richard James Steward (Father, born 1951) from Clearlake Oaks, CA; Pomo Indians of the Elem Indian Colony. Richard had grown up around music all his life, having learned to play guitar and sing Country music from his mom, Pricilla; Pricilla had learned from her cousin Hank Gonzalez, who was a popular Pomo country music singer from Big Valley Mission Rancheria. Growing up he got to hear lots of different kinds of music on the radio, and he mostly admired the Blues & Soul. This was an admiration that he shared with his youngest son, Paul. After leaving the reservation, though still being involved with the tribe, Rich and Paul with a group of extended family faced gripping poverty in relocating to Santa Rosa, but music kept their spirits up. When Paul was a young teenager at 14, Richard taught Paul to play guitar, encouraging him to be a Lead Guitarist. Paul, inspired by B.B. King began imitating the electric blues guitar he heard on the radio and CD's, also practicing his vocals. During those teenage years, Paul received a chance meeting with Uncle Hank Gonzalez in which Uncle Hank mentored him about being a singer and performer. In May 2003 Paul and Rich debuted as "Twice As Good, 2XG" in Santa Rosa, CA. Since then they have been all over the USA, released 7 albums, gained many awards, stellar newspaper reviews, great reviews in magazines and much more. They continue on with Paul leading the band night after night with fiery tunes, soulful vocals, and a screaming guitar, as Rich lays down that driving rhythm.

The name "Twice As Good" is not a claim of status. To Paul & Rich it is a dedication to hard work and quality of craft; about believing in one's self, not being shy, and having the courage to try something as hard as becoming a successful professional musician. They were once told, "you can't make it in the music business, you got to be twice as good," so they replied, "well all right then. We will be, Twice As Good."

They had played around with various bands in the beginning, gaining exposure and experience, working with an Indian group from Colusa Reservation called “Red Man Blues” that had broken up but in May 2003 they debuted as "Twice As Good, 2XG" at Terry's Southern BBQ in Santa Rosa, CA. From the house parties, they went to the clubs. From the clubs, they went to the Indian Casinos. Getting a steady gig at River Rock Casino was a large growing point for them. From the casinos, they went to the festivals. In 2005 they got a chance to perform a concert together with Uncle Hank Gonzalez like a musical family reunion. Some years later Uncle Hank passed away but Paul is proud to continue on the tradition of singing like his uncle. Being part of the revered Blue Wing Blues Festival 2007 for the first time got them a great magazine interview in News From Native California. From there they took a hot tip from the great Charlie Musselwhite (legendary harmonica player), who heard them playing at River Rock Casino and saluted them, he told them to go to Clarksdale Mississippi. You bet that they were standing at the “Crossroads” in April 2008 for the “Juke Joint Blues Festival.” Following that Blues Trail as the old-timers did, 2XG then traveled North to Chicago and got another big performance in June 2009 at the Chicago Blues Festival after-party, performing with the amazing Johnny B. Gayden on Bass Guitar.

Then back home in California, they were honored by the Bay Area Blues Society at the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame with an award for “Best New Blues Band of 2010” the 1st Native Americans to receive the award. Later in 2010, they continued to garner acclaim and recognition by winning the Last Band Standing Competition at Pala Casino in October. They beat 9 of Southern California's best bands by putting on an awesome show and putting out the Real Deal Blues. Then in November they proudly received the Award "Best Blues Recording 2010" for their album If That's All Right With You, and closed the awards ceremony show in Niagara Falls-NY rockin' the crowd and jamming with award-winning actor Wes Studi (star of Geronimo: An American Legend). Onward they continue to spread the sounds of the West Coast Blues with a hint of the Indian Beat. In 2013, with an appearance at the Indian Summer Music Festival in Milwaukee WI, they rocked the crowd while playing during a thunder and lightning storm and later that evening took home an Indian Summer Music Award. In the summer of 2014, 2XG was honored to perform for the National Museum of the American Indian at both locations New York City and Washington DC; proudly conferring their status as a notable and accomplished Native American musical act. These days you can catch 2XG in their weekly residency performances at Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park CA, or out on their many shows all over the West Coast, with occasional appearances across the country.

After releasing 7 albums, and touring hard for years, they welcomed the newest member to the team, William (Paul's son, born 2015) who doesn't perform with the group but for sure he's there in spirit.

References

SHARED THE STAGE WITH:
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Taj Mahal
Tower of Power
Wes Studi
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Booker T. Jones (Booker T. & the MG’s)
Martha Reeves (Martha & the Vandellas)
Tommy Castro
Charlie Musselwhite
John Lee Hooker Jr.
Big Bill Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters)
Norton Buffalo
Coco Montoya
Sonny Landreth
Johnny B. Gayden (Albert Collins & the IceBreakers)
Joe Louis Walker
Dennis Jones
Sugar Pie DeSanto
Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks
Gregg Austin's Magic of Motown/Second Wind-Temptations Tribute
Indigenous

FESTIVALS:
Living Earth Festival, Washington, DC
Native Sounds Downtown, New York, NY
Big Nancy’s Blues Showcase, Roxy & Dukes, Dunellen NJ
South Coast Clambake Jazz Festival, Coos Bay, OR
The Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival, Guerneville, CA
American Indian Day at Miccosukee Resort, Miami, FL
The 12th Native American Music Awards, Niagara Falls, NY
The Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago, IL
The Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale, MS
Las Vegas Brews & Blues Festival, Las Vegas, NV
Scottsdale Culinary Festival, Scottsdale, AZ
The Gathering of Nations-Stage 49, Albuquerque, NM
The Global Gaming Expo, Las Vegas, NV
Oakland Art+Soul Festival, Oakland, CA
Point Richmond Music Festival, Richmond, CA
Solano Avenue Stroll, Berkeley, CA
Napa City Nights, Napa, CA
The Redwood Coast Jazz Festival, Eureka, CA
American Indian Film Festival Awards Show, San Francisco, CA
The Sacramento Music Festival, Old Town Sacramento, CA
The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Monterey, CA
The Blues By the Bay Festival, Eureka, CA
KPFZ 88.1 FM Annual BBQ & Blues, Clearlake, CA
The Petaluma Music Festival, Petaluma, CA
Bicoastal Media Summer Concert Series, Eureka & Lakeport, CA
The Red White & Blues Festival, Pleasanton, CA
The Sonoma County Blues Festival, Santa Rosa, CA
The KRSH 95.9FM Backyard Concert Series, Santa Rosa, CA
Native Contemporary Arts Festival, San Francisco, CA
The Electric Pow Wow, San Francisco, CA
The 2nd Native American Music Association Blues Fest, San Jacinto, CA
The Cobb Mtn. Jazz & Blues Fest, Cobb Mtn, CA
The Blue Wing Blues Festival, Upper Lake, CA
The SSU Gospel Extravaganza, Rohnert Park, CA
Hoopa Tribe Annual Sovereignty Day Celebration, Hoopa, CA
Kiwanis Club Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival, Yuba City, CA
The Calistoga Summer Concert Series, Calistoga, CA
The Calistoga Downtown Blues Festival, Calistoga, CA
The Calistoga Raceway Annual Louie Vermeil Classic, Calistoga, CA
The Home Grown Blues Series, Oakland, CA

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
Sundays in the Park, Todd Park, Ukiah, CA
KXBX Summer Concert Series, Library Park, Lakeport, CA
Eureka Summer Concert Series, C St Market Square, Eureka, CA
Calistoga Concerts in the Park, Pioneer Park, Calistoga, CA
Party on the Plaza Music Series, City Center Plaza, Rohnert Park, CA
Summer Music Series, Theatre Square Plaza, Petaluma, CA
Point Richmond Music Series, Point Richmond, CA
Benicia Waterfront Festival, First Street Green, Benicia, CA
Native Contemporary Arts Festival, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
Kickin' In the Country Street Fair, Kelseyville, CA
Home Grown Blues Series, Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA
Downtown SummerFest, San Mateo, CA

CONCERT HALLS:
The Eureka Theater, Eureka, CA
Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, CA
Soper-Reese Community Theater, Lakeport, CA
The Hilton Resort, Palm Springs, CA
The Wyndham Resort, Palm Springs, CA
Cultural Center, Crescent City, CA
The Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa, CA
The Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, CA
The Brava Theatre, San Francisco, CA
The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, CA
The Grand Caberet, Pala, CA
Sebastopol Community Center, Sebastopol, CA
Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa Joe Mazzola Showroom, Kelseyville, CA
Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Rosa, CA
The Friedman Center, Santa Rosa, CA
The Hyatt Regency, Downtown Sacramento, CA
The Ukiah Valley Conference Center, Ukiah, CA
The Mooselodge, Clearlake Oaks, CA
The Napa Town & Country Fairgrounds-Cabernet Hall, Napa, CA
Holiday Inn: Golden Gateway Hotel, San Francisco, CA
Parc 55 Hotel, Ballroom, San Francisco, CA

CLUBS:
Fenix, San Rafael, CA
Roxy & Duke's, Dunellen, NJ
Billco's Billiards, Napa, CA
Whiskey Tip, Santa Rosa, CA
Tuscany Restaurant, Napa, CA
Russian River Brewing Co, Santa Rosa, CA
Biscuits and Blues, San Francisco, CA
Yoshi's, San Francisco, CA
The Tradewinds, Cotati, CA
The Blue Wing Saloon, Upper Lake, CA
Everett's Bar & Club, Crescent City, CA
The Rancho Nicasio, Nicasio, CA
Reggie's Music Joint, Chicago, IL
Riviera Hills Bar & Grill, Kelseyville, CA
JJ's Blues Club, San Jose, CA
Legends at Bennett Valley Golf Course, Santa Rosa, CA
Sailor Jack's, Benicia, CA
Pub Republic, Petaluma, CA

CASINOS:
The Mill Casino & Hotel, North Bend, OR
Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, FL
Pala Casino Spa & Resort, Pala, CA (1st place "Last Band Standing" Oct. 2010)
Graton Resort & Casino, Rohnert Park, CA
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Niagara Falls, NY
Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel, Salamanca, NY
Casino Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ
The Siena Hotel, Spa & Casino, Reno, NV
The Silver Legacy Casino of Reno, NV
Harrah's Reno Hotel & Casino, Reno, NV
Circus Circus Casino Hotel, Reno NV
John Ascuaga's Nugget, Sparks NV
The Silver Reef Casino, Bellingham, WA
Paiute Palace Casino, Bishop, CA
River Rock Casino, Geyserville, CA
La Posta Casino, Boulevard, CA
Rolling Hills Casino, Corning, CA
Casino Pauma, Pauma Valley, CA
Konocti Vista Casino, Lakeport, CA
Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino, Nice, CA
Twin Pine Casino, Middletown, CA
Coyote Valley Casino, Ukiah, CA (won 1st place in the Nov. 2004 Battle of the Bands)
Hopland Shokawah Casino, Hopland, CA
Lucky 7 Casino, Smith River, CA
Soboba Casino & Bingo, San Jacinto, CA
Colusa Bingo & Casino, Colusa, CA
Red Hawk Casino, Placerville, CA
Blue Lake Casino, Blue Lake, CA
Bear River Casino, Loleta, CA
Garcia River Casino, Point Arena, CA
Harrah's Rincon Casino, Valley Center, CA
Running Creek Casino, Upper Lake CA

WINERIES & VINEYARDS:
Tagaris Winery, Richland, WA
Trefethen Family Vineyards, Napa, CA
Boyd Family Vineyards, Napa, CA
Moulds Family Vineyard, Napa, CA
Regusci Winery, Napa, CA
Groth Vineyards, Oakville, CA
Parducci Wine Cellars, Ukiah, CA
Tulip Hill Winery, Nice, CA
Castello di Amorosa Castle & Winery, Calistoga, CA
Nelson Family Vineyards, Ukiah, CA
Kelseyville Wine Company & Olive Mill, Kelseyville, CA
Cleavage Creek Winery, Pope Valley, CA

Fairs:
Lake County Fair, Lakeport, CA
Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton, CA
Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa, CA
Napa County Fair, Calistoga, CA

SCHOOLS:
California State University-East Bay, Hayward, CA
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community School, Bloomfield, NM
City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
The Harvey Milk Academy, San Francisco, CA
Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA
Montgomery High School, Santa Rosa, CA
West Park Elementary School, Napa, CA

BLUES SOCIETIES:
The Bay Area Blues Society, Oakland, CA
The Sonoma County Blues Society, Santa Rosa, CA
The Golden Gate Blues Sociey, Redwood City, CA
The Silicon Valley Blues Society, San Jose, CA
The Sacramento Blues Society, Sacramento, CA

ORGANIZATIONS:
American Indian Film Institute, San Francisco, CA
National Congress of the American Indians, Washington, DC
The Native American Music Association, New York City, NY
House of Refuge Christian Fellowship, Rohnert Park, CA
KRSH 95.9FM-Sonoma County, CA
KPFA 94.1FM-Berkeley, CA
The City of Clearlake Chamber of Commerce, Clearlake, CA
The Cancer Society Relay For Life, Lakeport, CA
Tele-Video Company, Oakland, CA
The Native American Health Center, San Francisco, CA
Lake County Tribal Health Center, Lakeport, CA
Sonoma County Indian Health Center, Santa Rosa, CA
Round Valley Indian Health Center, Covelo, CA
First Americans In The Arts, Beverly Hills, CA
The Soroptimists International of St. Helena, CA
The Native Sons of St. Helena, CA
The Law Offices of Monteau & Peebles, Sacramento, CA
Royal Adah Arms Apartments, San Francisco, CA
CA Indian Education Association, Sacramento, CA
California Indian Manpower Consortium, Sacramento, CA
Chicago Indian Manpower Consortium, Chicago, IL
Bicoastal Media, Lakeport, CA
KBSC-TV from Brookings, OR to Crescent City, CA
Heyday Books: News From Native California Magazine, Berkeley, CA
M.C.A.V.N. Event of the Heart Fundraiser, Ukiah, CA
Sunrise Special Services Foundation, Upper Lake, CA
Animal Coalition of Lake County, Clearlake, CA
The Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, Calistoga, CA
ILWU Pacific Coast Pensioners Association, San Francisco, CA
Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire, Santa Rosa, CA

INDIAN TRIBES & RESERVATIONS:
The Miccosukee Tribe, Miami, FL
The Navajo Nation, Bloomfield, NM
Graton Rancheria, Rohnert Park, CA
The Lummi Nation of Washington State, Bellingham, WA
The Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Fallon, NV
Stewart's Point Rancheria, Stewart's Point, CA
Elk Valley Rancheria, Crescent City, CA
Pala Reservation, Pala, CA
Big Valley Rancheria, Lakeport, CA
Hoopa Reservation, Hoopa, CA
Coyote Valley Rancheria, Redwood Valley, CA
Middletown Rancheria, Middletown, CA
Robinson Rancheria, Nice, CA
Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, San Jacinto, CA
Wilton Rancheria, Elk Grove, CA
Lytton Rancheria, Santa Rosa, CA
Bishop Paiute Tribe, Bishop, CA
Scotts Valley Band of the Sugar Bowl Rancheria, Lakeport, CA
Potter Valley Tribe, Ukiah CA

and numerous, weddings, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and private parties.