Billy Sedlmayr’s “Tucson Kills” is a frighteningly lovely glimpse into boyhood and Tucson, and it brims with ache and empathy and tender regrets. There’s a heady sense of location here, to the point of mythology, dusted with area references—from the fading whores down on 6th Avenue and scoring in barrios Sobaco, Old Pasqua and Hollywood to “going crazy” in Florence prison yards and the fire at the Pioneer Hotel that killed 29 people. Gabe Sullivan’s production is sweetly spare and the mournful Mexican brass and goosebumps kick in at the precisely the same moment. Billy had this tune kicking around for years. (This version is an alternate from his 2014 debut Charmed Life.) He played it for me back in ’98 in the Phoenix barrio off Van Buren when we were both living around there. Just a voice and a crappy acoustic guitar, and even then my jaw dropped. Even then I knew that “Tucson Kills” was the ballad of Tucson.
Old Travis Edmonson—or Townes Van Zandt for that matter—ain’t got nothin’ on Sedlmayr.
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2016.
Don’t tell the FaceBook, but I liked this piece – and the song.
No. Drug addiction kills. Tucson is peculiar in some ways, but overall is no better or worse than any other comparably-sized city. Tucson could be a great city, if more people cared about making it so. I’m afraid this video will just confirm perceptions that Tucson attracts burnouts and misfits, for reasons that are too melancholy to contemplate.
Thank you, Starcommand, for your inspired words. It’s clear that you are not only a music lover, but that you have a true appreciation for art in general. You also seem to have a great handle on how to fix Tucson, because it so desperately needs fixing. Perhaps some day all the people as enlightened as yourself will get together and make Tucson the great city that you envision. Until then, please continue commenting – without your opinion, we would be lost.
His next song will be ‘Tucson smells’
Billy is such an amazing artist and poet! Tucson is so lucky to have him. Thank you, Billy, for all that you create.
I saw him perform once and thought it was so beautiful,passionate and inspirational… I love his cd!!
Billy is one of a kind. He is an inspiration to a lot of people. This song told the story that he wanted to tell and did it well. 😉 Tucson is an amazing city with wonderfully unpretentious people. Anyone who’s spent quality time there knows…
Fuck You star command
you don’t have a clue
you showed up out of the Blue
your here because you don’t know what to do
you can judge and know whats wrong
you can never say it in a song
you can only point and say
I know a better way
but all you do is sit and judge
All those who’ve lived who hold no grudge
It’s beautiful.