– Kaitlin Butts, who released her second album "What Else Can She Do" last year, is out with a video for "Blood," a co-write with Angaleena Presley.
The Oklahoma-bred, Nashville-based singer and songwriter will open on Morgan Wade's Spring "No Signs of Slowing Down" tour – including shows in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Austin, Dallas and Nashville. Butts also will make her Stagecoach debut in April. Butts will also take part in the Two Step Inn festival in Texas in April alongside Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Tanya Tucker and Wynona.
"I came to Nashville for the first time five years ago," said Butts. "I was miraculously set up to write with someone who I have looked up to for quite a while, Angaleena Presley of the Pistol Annies. I was so nervous walking up to her house, hoping to not make a fool out of myself during our session. She made me feel right at home, and we started talking about family and how we accept certain behaviors from our family that we would not tolerate from our friends."
"We sweep things under the rug or hold our tongue, as to not stir the pot so that no one goes and flips the table over at Thanksgiving dinner. And I don't think that's how it has to be. I don't think you should just have to tolerate abusive behavior solely because someone is blood. I think that if someone makes you feel small or bad about yourself when you're around them, they cross lines that you've asked them not to cross time and time again, if they don't love you unconditionally for exactly who you are, you do not have to be around those people, family or not."
"In making this video, I really wanted to show what being in a relationship with an abusive narcissist looks like behind closed doors," Butts said. "I think that's what I want people to take away from this. If this is happening to you, leave. I don't care what they are to you, I don't care if you'll 'have nothing' if you leave them. I know that's probably what they told you, but they're lying."
"If someone around you belittles you, disrespects you, abuses you physically or verbally, you are much better off with nothing than being with them. Oftentimes, in movies we see what a dysfunctional relationship looks like, what an abuser looks like; typically, a gruff looking drunkard, a jobless 'loser' living in a trailer. Something very stereotypical. But in my experience, it looks a lot different. To me, it looks like the prettiest, wealthiest homes with the dinner table set to perfection, a homemade pie, crystal glasses and refined whiskey. The husband just got home from work, still wearing his suit. In public, he looks distinguished, a well-respected man. Behind closed doors, he is a monster feeding off a power that he holds over her. That is what a 'loser' looks like to me."
Tour dates are :
March 1 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom*
March 2 - Boston, MA – Royale*
March 3 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live*
March 4 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater & Ballroom*
March 5 - Detroit, MI - El-Club*
March 25 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre*
March 26 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren*
March 28 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf*
March 30 - Houston, TX - Heights Theatre*
March 31 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn*
April 1 - Dallas, TX - Kessler Theatre*
April 2 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn*
April 6 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle*
April 7 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium*
April 8 - Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle*
April 16 - Georgetown, TX - Two Step Inn
April 30 - Indio, CA - Stagecoach
May 19 - Knoxville, TN - River Breeze Event Center
June 23 - Pendleton, OR - Jackalope Jamboree
* opening for Morgan Wade