Kelseyville >> Father-son duo Twice as Good have amassed quite the following in the last fifteen years. And they’re not taking it for granted. “We really appreciate how our fans have stuck with us,” said Rich Steward, the father in the duo. “We really owe a lot to the fans and the people of Lake County.”
Though Rich Steward may be the older of the two, it’s his son, Paul Steward, who acts as the band leader, organizing every aspect from arranging set lists to booking shows. But it wasn’t always that way.
When Paul Steward was in high school, his interest in music peaked. He came home one day and asked his father to teach him to play the guitar. Rich Steward taught his son everything he knew.
It wasn’t long before Paul Steward was holding his own. “He took it from there and grew into an unbelievable musician,” Rich Steward said.
The young Steward’s skill with the guitar grew so quickly that his father knew his son possessed a special kind of talent. Rich Steward suggested starting a band. His son agreed. “From that point forward I kind of dedicated myself to him and we’ve been playing music ever since,” Rich Steward said.
They perform both as a duo and with a backing band, the 2XG Band. Both Paul and Rich Steward favor the traditional blues sound in the vein of BB King, the king of the blues and their favorite musician. There’s something about that style that draws them in. “When you listen to them playing the lead guitar, the notes, it really grabs you,” Rich Steward said. “That’s what we love about it, the way that they make those notes and melodies come alive. That’s what we try to emulate.”
But they also throw in some soul and R&B sounds, thanks to Paul Steward’s smooth vocals. He’s evolved into a quite the soul singer, Rich Steward said, and many fans request those songs because of it.
Twice as Good stay busy, performing every Sunday and Monday at Graton Resort and Casino over in Rohnert Park. They travel all around Northern California for gigs and festivals, including an upcoming show with Biscuits and Blues, the largest blues club in Northern California. They’ve also traveled across state borders for a festival in southern Oregon. The biggest highlight of the last year came in the form of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. The event, hosted by the Blues Foundation, saw musicians from across the U.S. and 12 different countries competing for an impressive prize package, including a record deal.
Twice as Good made it to the semi-finals, a worthy place the duo was more than satisfied with. Although they didn’t win, they did leave with an expanded fan base. Plus, they gave Kelseyville a bit of notoriety. Since competing, they’ve received calls from all over the U.S. from people interested in booking them.
The duo currently have seven albums under their belt, and they’ve submitted their most recent CD for consideration for the Native American Music Awards, which they’ve won in years past.
And for fans asking for more music, Paul and Rich Steward have been listening. They’ve been in the studio recording their eighth album, which they hope to release by the end of the year.
Come this Saturday, July 30, Twice as Good and the 2XG Band will be performing at Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill for the winery’s Black Label Wine Release and Music Festival. They’ll be performing a mix of their original music and popular covers.
In addition to Twice as Good, the Chacewater Winery music festival will include performances by Page Anderson and the Fearless Kin, Jones and Fischer and a special appearance by Tony Neves. The event is from 11 a.m. — 9 p.m. at 5625 Gaddy Ln. Kelseyville. Call 279-2995 for tickets.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
