Jason “Wolf” Hamlin might have gotten a golden ticket to Hollywood, but he hasn’t given up his day job.
Hamlin went viral after a show-stopping audition during American Idol's San Diego stop, his story plastered from the L.A. Times to New York’s Newsday after he closed out the auditions with not one but two tunes — because judge Steven Tyler wanted to hear more.
But this week he was working his 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift at in the maintenance department. The shop was featured on Sunday’s show.
“We knew he was going down to audition last summer, but we knew he must have impressed them when the film crew came here in October to film the behind-the-scenes,” says Poppy Ridge Tournament Director Nick Abbott.
And he confirms that all the women at the golf course got excited about getting a chance to see Ryan Seacrest — while the guys were hoping for a Jennifer Lopez appearance. Sadly, neither came to town for the behind-the-scenes tapings.
But that didn’t stop Hamlin from letting Seacrest know on the show how much they wanted to meet him — and give him a kiss for them. Even though he said he wouldn’t, the playful Hamlin planted one on Seacrest’s cheek.
“He’s a character,” Abbott says.
Abbott said the day after the show aired, Hamlin was getting coffee at the local AM/PM when someone asked him if he was the guy from “American Idol.” After confirming, he asked Hamlin to pose for a picture with him. He gladly complied.
“Wolf’s just a really nice guy,” Abbott says. “We all fully support him. We’d hate to lose him but he’s living his dream.”
The 2005 graduate of Eudora High School in Kansas talked on the show about what an inspiration his father, Scot, was to him. Guitar-maker Scot Hamlin was just 49 when he passed away in his sleep on Feb. 1, 2010.
But these days he calls Livermore home, and even shops in the downtown guitar shop on First Street.
Hamlin has worked at Poppy Ridge for more than a year, and Abbott said he likes Hamlin’s musical style. He says Hamlin has performed locally at the in downtown Livermore. That’s also the spot where the film crew took shots of him playing when they were here last October.
If you missed Hamlin’s Wild Vine performances — or want more — you can see him perform at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at the First Street Alehouse.
His girlfriend’s sister works as a waitress at First Street Alehouse and the couple are regular costumers. Hamlin asked if he could play at the restaurant and the offer was quickly accepted. If his rockin’ outlaw country audition is any indication, the audience is in for a treat.
“You don’t expect a young guy like him to be into the old country guys like Johnny Cash, but I think he’s going to revive that music,” Abbott predicts. "Someone from called and was looking for him. I think they want to book him before his rates go up."
You can purchase Hamlin's music on iTunes.
The Hollywood Rounds begin at 8 p.m. Feb. 9 on Fox, with all semifinalists revealed on Feb. 23. Viewer voting begins on Feb. 28.
