Brandon Bing – AWAYSTEAD (Single Review)

Today’s review features the new single Awaystead by Brandon Bing. At first you might assume that the name of the song “Awaystead” is a clever play on its opposite Homestead, but wait until you’ve heard the song!

“Awaystead” is co-written with Noah Gibbings and published by Dirty Bird South Muzik. Bing reports that this “isn’t just a song-it’s a shotgun blast of heartbreak, grit, and Southern rebellion that fires the first official shot of the Black Dirt Music movement” says Bing, ‘Awaystead’ is for the ones who’ve been burned, betrayed, and reborn.”

Bing says “Black Dirt Music is what happens when country collides with rebellion, soul, and raw storytelling. No polish. No filter. Just real-life sh*t.”

Fueled by his rowdy fan base known as the Church of Heathens and backed by his own whiskey brand Bangtail, Bing is “carving a disruptive new lane in the country landscape-where bar fights, backroads, and brutal honesty reign supreme.”

“We’re not here for the spotlight. We’re here to build our own stage,” says Bing. “This song is for the Hoss Nation. For the rebels. For the broken. For the ones who aren’t afraid to feel it and still raise hell.”

Brandon Bing likes to say, he “is more than a country artist-he’s a movement.” You do have to give it to him, as the creator of Black Dirt Music, founder of Bangtail Whiskey, and the face of the rising Hoss Nation, Bing is redefining what it means to be country in 2025.

In the one sheet for the song, the artist says, “Awaystead drags traditional country through the mud and resurrects it into something darker, louder, and unapologetically real. It’s the kind of song you blast while leaving behind a toxic past and flooring it toward freedom.” Let’s press play.

The song starts with an Aerosmith like single-note riff then full on into some metal power chords. So at first, I think I’m listening to a hard rock or alternative rock song. Not a sound you typically hear in country music. But then the male vocals come in, and you can definitely tell they’re country.

The male singer has a very country voice and accent. But if it weren’t for the vocals, you could not tell that this is not a full-on alternative/hard rock anthem. Everything about the instrument tracks screams very hard rock.

I like the clever lyrics and that you can hear the acoustic guitar strumming away under the vocals to keep the country-theme going. When we get to the chorus we learn that “Awaystead” actually means “A-wasted!”, as in “I’m getting wasted.” It’s definitely a break-up song, which is a common a country music theme. The lead guitar solo is definitely a hard rock solo.

The performances on this track are excellent, as is the mix and production. This song definitely has some built-in radio appeal. It will be interesting to see if it can gain traction/get in rotation on commercial country radio.

SCORE/Excellent: This song kicks ass! Brandon Bing goes full-metal jacket on this tune, putting a country twist on an alternative rock vibe. I hope some commercial country radio stations pick this song up and see how it performs in rotation. The song is definitely radio ready! Much love, Beth

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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