2xg march 2015 press publicity kit
TRANSCRIPT
Paul & Rich Steward, the son and father, Native American, Ultimate Blues Duo!!
Backed by the 2XG Band, they perform Blues, Soul, and Rock & Roll
with screaming guitar and soulful vocals.
Twice As Good 2XG
March 2015 Press/Publicity Kit
If you don’t believe us then believe the
newspapers and magazines
www.twiceasgood.org
Table of Contents
1) Images
2.) Biography
3.) Notable Accomplishments
4.) Festival Appearances
5.) Contact Information and References
6.) CD Releases
7.) News From Native California excerpt
8.) News… continued
9.) Oakland Post, West Coast Blues Hall of Fame
10.) The Native American Music Awards 2010
11.) SF Chronicle Datebook
12.) The Lake County Record-Bee
13.) The Eureka Times-Standard
14.) Living Blues Magazine
15.) Blues Blast Magazine
16.) The Sonoma County Press Democrat
17.) The Vallejo Times-Herald
“They sure got a lot of nice outfits.”
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 Elem Indian
Colony in Clearlake Oaks, CA on the shores of beautiful Clear Lake. Richard, born and raised on the Indian
reservation without electricity or running water, had grown up around music all his life, he learned to play
guitar and sing from his Mother, Priscilla. Priscilla had learned music from her cousin Hank Gonzalez, a re-
gionally famous Native country music singer. Rich grew up admiring Country, Blues & Soul. He shared this
music with his youngest Son, Paul.
The Stewards left the reservation in 1995 when their home was burned down, eventually relocating to Santa
Rosa CA. When Paul was a young teenager he found solace in music. He had a toy keyboard and could figure
out and play melodies by ear. Richard taught Paul some keyboard chords and how 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. Paul & Rich, inspired by the Blues Brothers, began performing
house parties and BBQ’s for friends and family, just the two of them.
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. Since then they have been all
over the USA, independently released 7 albums, shared the stage with many legends and famous artists, and
continue to garner success and praise with Paul leading the band through flashy show tunes, with soulful
vocals, screaming guitar, and unbelievable stage presence.
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. 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,
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 like the old-timers did they went up North and got another big performance in June
2009 at the Chicago Blues Festival, performing with the amazing Johnny B. Gayden on Bass Guitar from
Albert Collin's band.
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 the major
motion picture, Geronimo: An American Legend [1993]). Onward they continue to spread the sounds of the
West Coast Blues with a hint of the Indian Beat. They have also won an Indian Summer Music Award, a great
write-up in the San Francisco Chronicle and in Living Blues Magazine, shared the stage with many legends
and famous artists [Robert Randolph, Martha Reeves, Charlie Musselwhite, John Lee Hooker Jr, Big Bill
Morganfield, and more], and continue to garner success and praise with Paul leading the band through flashy
tunes with soulful vocals, screaming guitar, and unbelievable stage presence.
The name "Twice As Good" isn't 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".
*Winners of the Silicon Valley Blues Society's Band Challenge, San Jose CA, November 2014.
*Nominated for the 15th Annual Native American Music Awards, "Back To Clearlake Oaks" CD,
USA, November 2014.
*Headlining band at the Living Earth Festival, National Museum of the American Indian,
Washington DC, July 19th, 2014.
*Featured band at the Native Sounds Downtown Concert Series, National Museum of the American Indian,
New York City NY, July 17th, 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
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, Civic Center Lawn
Scottsdale AZ, April 2012.
*Headlining Band at the American Indian Festival, Miccosukee Resort
Miami FL, September 2011.
*Featured article in the San Francisco Chonicle Datebook (Arts & Entertainment)
San Francisco CA, January 9th, 2011.
*Winners of the "Best Blues Recording" Award, 2010, by the Native American Music Awards for the
album If That's All Right With You, Niagara Falls NY, November 2010.
*Winners of the Last Band Standing Competition at Pala Casino Resort
Pala/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
Las Vegas NV, November 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.
Accomplishments
Living Earth Festival, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC (July 2014)
Native Sounds Downtown, National Museum of the American Indian, New York NY (July 2014)
Big Nancy’s Blues Showcase, Roxy & Dukes, Dunellen NJ (July 2014)
South Coast Clambake Jazz Festival, The Mill Casino Hotel, Coos Bay OR (March 2014)
Indian Summer Festival & Awards Show, Summerfest Grounds, Maier Park, Milwaukee WI (Sept 2013)
American Indian Day Festival, Miccosukee Resort & Casino, Miami FL (September 2011)
The Native American Music Awards Show, Seneca Niagara Casino, Niagara Falls NY (November 2010)
The Chicago Blues Festival afterparty, Reggie’s Music Joint, Chicago IL (June 2009)
The Juke Joint Festival, the Bluesberry Café, Clarksdale MS (April 2008)
Las Vegas Brews & Blues Festival, Springs Preserve, Las Vegas NV (June 2013)
Scottsdale Culinary Festival, Civic Center Lawn, Scottsdale AZ (April 2012)
The Gathering of Nations-Stage 49, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM (April 2011)
The Global Gaming Expo, L.V. Convention Center, Las Vegas NV (November 2008)
The Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival, Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville CA (September 2012)
Oakland Art+Soul Festival, Downtown Street Stage, Oakland CA (August 2014)
The Redwood Coast Jazz Festival, Eureka Theatre, Eureka CA (March 2014)
The Sacramento Music Festival, Old Town Sacramento, CA (May 2014)
The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, County Fairgrounds, Monterey CA (June 2011)
The Blues By the Bay Festival, Waterfront Park, Eureka CA (September 2011)
The Petaluma Music Festival, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma CA (August 2009)
Napa City Nights, Veterans Memorial Park, Napa CA (August 2014)
American Indian Film Festival Awards Show, the SF Jazz Center, San Francisco CA (November 2013)
The Red White & Blues Festival, Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton CA (July 2011)
The Sonoma County Blues Festival, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa, CA (July 2008)
Native Contemporary Arts Festival, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco CA (June 2010)
The 2nd Native American Music Association Blues Fest, Soboba Casino, San Jacinto CA (July 2002)
The Blue Wing Blues Festival, Tallman Hotel, Upper Lake CA (Aug. 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Kiwanis Club Blues, Brews & BBQ, Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City CA (September 2009, 2010)
Sundays in the Park, Todd Park, Ukiah CA (September 2014)
KXBX Summer Concert Series, Library Park, Lakeport CA (2009-2014)
Eureka Summer Concert Series, C St Market Square, Eureka CA (2009-2014)
Point Richmond Music Series, Point Richmond, CA (2013, 2014)
Benicia Waterfront Festival, First Street Green, Benicia CA (July 2013)
and many more shows in concert halls, clubs, festivals, lounges, and private parties...
Festivals
Personal/Professional References:
Bernie Butcher - owner/executive of the Tallman Hotel & Blue Wing Saloon/Café
Margaret Wiley - Events Coordinator at Royal Adah Arms Apartments
(415) 567-3840
Amy Ramos - Marketing Director at Coyote Valley Casino
Rod Schweitz - Board Member and Band Committee Member at the South Coast
Clambake Jazz Festival ([email protected])
Alan Mathews - General Manager at BiCoastal Media
...and many more...
for Booking or Licensing:
Twice As Good 2XG
Paul & Rich Steward
Phone Numbers:
Paul(707)293-4937 cell
Rich(707)293-4938 cell
Email:
Mailing Address:
805 Howard St.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Paul & Rich are Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) affiliated Songwriters and
Publishers.
www.twiceasgood.org
www.youtube.com/twiceasgood2xg
CD Album Releases
(August 2014)
That’s All I Need
2XG Records
(October 2012)
Back To Clearlake Oaks
2XG Records
- Blues Album of the Year
2013 Indian Summer Music Awards
- Nominated, Blues Album of the Year
2014 Native American Music Awards
(November 2009)
If That’s All Right With You
2XG Records
- Blues Album of the Year
2010 Native American Music Awards
(July 2007)
Live at Pala Casino 2007
2XG Records
- Nominated, Outstanding
Musical Achievement
2007 First Americans In The
Arts Awards
(July 2011)
Collector’s Edition
2XG Records
(January 2006)
Cover To Cover
2XG Records
(February 2005)
2XG
2XG Records
#1. Our first magazine interview, and we made the cover!
News From Native California magazine, a California and National magazine
published out of Berkeley CA by Heyday Books.
#2. On the cover of the Oakland Tribune newspaper! (top left corner)
The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards show bestowed us the “Best New
Blues Band of 2010.”
#3. (left) Dedicating our trophy to you! Twice As Good wins the 2010 Blues Album
of the Year at the Native American Music Awards, the “Nammys,” for their album If
That’s All Right With You.
(right) album cover, If That’s All Right With You by Twice As Good
2009 2XG Records
#4. Featured article in the San Francisco Chronicle
Datebook (Arts & Entertainment Section).
#5. Pictured in the Lake County Record Bee newspaper.
Being one of Lake County California’s most famous and popular bands, we’ve
received lots of spots in the paper. Here is an image of us performing at the Lakeport
Summer Concert Series, attend by over 800+ people every year. We’ve performed on it
2009-to current, 6 years and running.
#6. On the cover of the Eureka Times Standard newspaper.
Also having been on the Eureka Summer Concert Series for 7 years running, we have
lots of fans in the Pacific Northwest. We’ve also performed the Eureka Theater opening
for Tommy Castro.
#7. CD-Album Review in Living Blues Magazine.
Our last CD, “Back To Clearlake Oaks,” received a good review in the December issue
of Living Blues Magazine, a nationally syndicated magazine, even worldwide.
#8. CD-Album Review. Blues Blast Magazine. International online magazine.
#9. Article in the Press Democrat newspaper.
Almost 11 years after starting our band in Santa Rosa, the newspaper finally found us
noteworthy and published this nice article about us and our regular performances.
#10. Article in the
Times-Herald of Vallejo CA
about a Blues Festival at a
nearby winery. They loved our
publicity picture very much.
Twice As Good 2XG 2014. ℗