Showing posts with label Twice As Good. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twice As Good. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Twice As Good - If That's All Right With You

Album: If That's All Right With You
Size: 83,1 MB
Time: 36:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Walk With You, Talk With You (2:19)
2. Clarksdale (3:56)
3. I Love My Babe (2:49)
4. The Sax Boogie (4:12)
5. If That's All Right With You (3:14)
6. Make It Go (2:51)
7. Recession (4:03)
8. The Way You Move (4:03)
9. Somebody New (4:11)
10. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You (4:17)

Twice As Good (2XG) is the musical duo of father and son, Richard James Steward (born 1951) and Paul Anthony Steward (born 1984), proud Pomo Indians from the Elem Indian Colony in Clearlake Oaks, California. The group’s name, "Twice As Good," is not a boast but a mission - representing dedication, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. It was born from a challenge: “You’ve got to be twice as good to make it.” Their response? “All right then. We will be - Twice As Good.”

Music ran deep in their bloodline. Richard was raised around music, learning guitar and Country singing from his mother, Pricilla, who had herself been taught by her cousin, the revered Pomo country singer Hank Gonzalez of Big Valley Mission Rancheria. Though exposed to many genres on the radio growing up, Richard was most drawn to Blues and Soul—an appreciation he later shared with his youngest son, Paul.

After leaving the reservation - yet remaining closely connected to their tribal community - Richard and Paul, along with extended family, resettled in Santa Rosa, California, facing severe economic hardship. Through it all, music was their salvation. When Paul was 14, Richard taught him to play guitar, encouraging him to become a lead guitarist. Paul, inspired by B.B. King, immersed himself in electric blues and honed his vocal style. A pivotal moment came during his teenage years when Paul met Uncle Hank Gonzalez, who mentored him in performance and stagecraft.

In May 2003, Paul and Richard debuted as Twice As Good (2XG) in Santa Rosa, California. Their earliest gigs included house parties and bar sets, often collaborating with fellow Native musicians from groups like Red Man Blues of the Colusa Reservation. Their big break came with steady performances at River Rock Casino, which opened the door to music festivals and broader recognition. A highlight was a 2005 performance with Uncle Hank - an unforgettable family reunion on stage.

Their reputation began to soar. They were invited to perform at the Blue Wing Blues Festival in 2007 and were featured in News From Native California. Legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, after seeing them live, urged them to head to Clarksdale, Mississippi. In April 2008, 2XG played the Juke Joint Blues Festival at the famed Crossroads, then made their way north to Chicago for a high-profile appearance at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival After-Party, joined by bassist Johnny B. Gayden.

In 2010, Twice As Good became the first Native Americans to be honored with “Best New Blues Band” by the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame. That same year, they won the Last Band Standing competition at Pala Casino, outshining nine top Southern California bands. Later, their album If That's All Right With You earned them the “Best Blues Recording" award at the 2010 Native American Music Awards, and they closed the award ceremony in Niagara Falls, NY, jamming with actor and musician Wes Studi.

Note: Richard James Steward passed away in April 2025.

If That's All Right With You mc
If That's All Right With You gofile

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Twice As Good - That's All I Need

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 48:58
Size: 112.1 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[5:20] 1. Where Do We Go From Here
[4:10] 2. Love You Anyway
[3:55] 3. Never Let You Go
[2:54] 4. I'm Ready
[4:10] 5. Dance With Me
[3:54] 6. Everything's Gonna Be All Right
[4:02] 7. That's All I Need
[2:47] 8. Sugar
[4:42] 9. This Little Light Of Mine
[4:48] 10. Wait So Long
[3:17] 11. Wang Dang Doodle
[4:53] 12. These Blues Is Killing Me

Paul & Rich Steward, the Son & Father, Native American, Ultimate Blues duo performing high energy Blues, Soul, and Rock & Roll with screaming guitar and soulful vocals backed by the 2XG band. Charlie Musselwhite calls them "The Real Deal Blues".

Twice As Good 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. He mostly admired Blues & Soul. 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. In May 2003 they debuted as "Twice As Good, 2XG" in Santa Rosa, CA. Since then they have been all over the USA, released 6 albums, gained a West Coast Blues Award and a Native American Music Award, a great write-up in the San Francisco Chronicle, 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.

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."

That's All I Need mc
That's All I Need zippy

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Twice As Good - Back To Clearlake Oaks

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 40:23
Size: 92.5 MB
Styles: Modern electric blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:21] 1. Good Evening, Good Night
[3:37] 2. The Blues Don't Bother Me
[4:04] 3. The Long Way Home
[4:23] 4. Angel Of Mercy
[4:03] 5. Back To Clearlake Oaks
[2:21] 6. Samba Dos Indios
[6:18] 7. I Wanna Know
[3:42] 8. Let Me Tell You 'bout My Babe
[5:27] 9. Shake Your Hips
[3:01] 10. Dust My Broom (Live)

Don’t be fooled by the packaging of this CD from Twice As Good, a father-son team of Native Americans from Northern California. From outward appearances, you might be misled into believing the music contained herein is simple country blues with a couple of good old boys trading licks. But don’t be fooled! It’s a red-hot collection of modern electric blues that will definitely get and keep your attention.

The core of the group consists of Paul Steward on lead guitar, keyboards, saxophone and vocals and father Richard on rhythm guitar and backup vocals. Members of the Elem Indian Colony in Clearlake, Calif., the Stewards learned how to play through Richard’s mother and their elder cousin, Hank Gonzalez, a country musician who enjoyed a large following in the region. Gonzalez also gigged with his protégés early in their career.

The Stewards are backed by Robert Watson and Jahon Pride on bass, Billy “Shoes” Johnson and Bryce Hodge on drums, and Mateo Steward-Headrick on backing vocals as they blend the tonalities of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jonny Lang and Robert Randolph into a style all their own. “If That’s All Right With You,” one of four previous Twice As Good releases, was honored as Best Blues Recording at the 2010 Native American Music Awards. And this disc has received similar honors at the 2013 Indian Summer Music Awards, sponsored by the Indian tribes of Wisconsin. ~Marty Gunther

Back To Clearlake Oaks