Multitalented Sean Dietrich wows Albany audience

ALBANY — OK, it was impressive enough that Sean Dietrich — aka Sean of the South, who brought his one-man show to the Albany Municipal Auditorium last week — played first fiddle, then piano, then guitar, then banjo, all the while supplying vocals, during his performance.

But when he told the story about watching “The Lawrence Welk Show” (one of the two shows, along with the Billy Graham Crusade, his grandmother allowed him to watch as a child) and especially Myron Floren and his accordion, and then brought said instrument from a place secreted behind his piano, well that cinched it. Dietrich is far and away one of the most gifted talents performing today.

But it wasn’t just the playing of songs like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Mama Tried,” “Grandmother’s Feather Bed,” “Mona Lisa,” “Jambalaya on the Bayou,” the you-had-to-be-there medley of the gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away” that segued into the “Beverly Hillbillies Theme,” his exceptional take — and tribute to Ray Charles while “playing the piano that one of my idols played” — of “Georgia on My Mind,” and, oh yeah, the “Charlie Brown Theme Song” that showed right out of the gate that this was going to be a fun night, that wowed the audience.

Dietrich’s show, which had a crowd he won over very quickly frequently roaring with laughter, put the entertainer’s skills — his vocal range that allows him to shift genres at the drop of a hat, his musicianship (and I’ll admit up front, I’m a sucker for an accordion) and his storytelling — front and center. And there was never a lull, minus the 15-minute intermission halfway through the show.

Dietrich proved constantly through the two-hour performance that he is indeed a true son of the South. His topics were readily relatable to his audience, many of whom could be seen shaking their heads or calling out a hearty amen when he talked about things like fishing, (“There are two rules to fishing: Shut and Up.”), the hilarious take on how his granddad taught him the “Just a Bowl of Butterbeans” version of the gospel tune “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” and being called on to sing in church at a young age and, unable to come up with a tune off the top of his head, belting Hank Williams’ very unchurchy “Hey, Good Lookin’.”

Dozens lined up after the show to meet Dietrich, take a selfie with the entertainer, and buy copies of his several books and other merchandise.

Someone asked before the show what kind of performer Dietrich is. I fumbled about, trying to describe his act based on videos I’d seen. But now I can answer that question with ease: His is one of the most fun shows anyone could hope to witness, a night of laughter and entertainment unlike any they will have seen before or will see after.

Staff Photo: Carlton FletcherStaff Photo: Carlton Fletcher