Minneapolis indie-rock band Yam Haus stopped by The Current and talked with host Zach McCormick about their recent releases and upcoming shows.

Use the audio player above to listen to the interview, and find a full transcript below.

Interview Transcript

Zach McCormick: Thanks for tuning into The Current. In studio, joining me right now, Yam Haus, performing this Saturday at the First Avenue main room. That's January 10, with support from Laamar. Joining me in studio right now. Lars [Pruitt], Zach [Beinlich], and Jake [Felstow]. Thank you so much Yam Haus for joining us in the studio today, fellas.

Yam Haus: What's up man? Thanks for having us.

Zach McCormick: So let's start talking about this new track that you released back in December. It's called "Ain't Dead Yet." I'm noticing a little bit of like a heartland, rock vibe. Bruce Springsteen, one of my personal favorites, maybe you guys' as well. I'm noticing a little similarity to another song that you released this last year, that our listeners in The Current have been loving, called "One Bullet Left." And then this other song, "Dollar Store Mansion," too. So what drew you to this musical territory, this kind of sound that you've been playing a little bit on these last couple of singles.

Lars Pruitt: I think our music has been growing up with us in a way. When we started, we were doing a lot of like bedroom pop stuff and experimenting with funk and using a lot of synthesizers and production and having fun with learning how to be in the studio. And I think as we started to play live more and grow up a little bit, we were more interested in making songs with our hands and little more organic sounds. And I think you just grow up a little bit. And I, in the last probably three or four years, had a major Bruce Springsteen sort of revival moment for me. I don't even know if it was revival was more of like a birth, because I never really got into that as much growing up. And I feel like Springsteen is so ubiquitous in American culture, but I kind of, for the first time, discovered it for myself. And so I definitely think that that leaked into my subconscious and led to things in our music. And I think the guys have similar experiences with just, you know, continuing to evolve and grow as musicians.

Zach McCormick: Did any of you catch the new Jeremy Allen White biopic? I haven't seen it yet either, like very early January, so we'll put it all in our to do list, definitely.

Yam Haus: Let's go together.

Zach McCormick: You released a bunch of singles in 2025, all the material is sounding great. I'm sort of hoping, maybe excited, that we could maybe get this on a full length at some point. But what do you like about releasing singles as a format? Does it allow you to kind of get music into the hands of your fans a little quicker?

Jake Felstow: I like that it highlights the song individually a little bit more than an album. Could you know depending on how deeply your listeners listen to your music, I think you can just highlight a three or four minute song and kind of really brand it in a way that feels unique to the song. It takes a lot more work because it's almost like you're branding it as if it's an album, but it's just the one song stand alone. So it's been a journey, you know, feels like you're kind of starting the runway of promoting it, and creating all the content for it, and then releasing it, and then you almost just start it right back over and it typically overlaps. So, yeah, it's been, it's been a fun year.

Zach McCormick: I love the kind of, along with the Americana, the heartland rock sounds, the imagery has kind of evolved for you guys with that too. I've seen some pickup trucks. I've seen some kind of, green grass out there, more rural settings and that kind of stuff. It is a full 360 effect. I love that. You all have done a really great job over the years of finding a fan base for yourselves on the World Wide Web. You always had a really adept quality with your social media practice. But I've always wondered, is that something that you learned how to do because you wanted to, because you were drawn to social media, or is that something you learned how to do, because it was a survival tactic to live in the way that the industry is in 2025 and beyond.

Zach Beinlich: Yeah, I think it's a part of what it means to be a musician today. And on the label we're on, they're very intense about that kind of stuff. And yeah, it just comes with the territory, I think, left in a vacuum, you would just make your music and, you know, not do anything else. But I think what it looks like to be in the industry today is to be online and do that kind of stuff, and we try to make fun and have it be a good time, because you have to do it. So you might as well embrace it a little bit.

Zach McCormick: I was gonna say it doesn't feel like you're having to be pulled through it. You guys are having a good time. I love the kind of the spinning wheel effect that you've been doing recently on social where it's like this song was influenced by this artist or whatever. Almost like a little bit of a game show quality. So you bring the creativity, you bring the humor, and I think that that goes a long way to bringing people in on the process.

Zach Beinlich: Absolutely, for sure.

Zach McCormick: We are talking to the members of Yam Haus right now performing at First Avenue this Saturday, January 10, with support from Laamar. That's Lars, Jake and Zach on the mics. This is your third time headlining the First Avenue main room, first back in 2019 what does it mean for you guys, as Twin Cities musicians from the Minnesota music scene to headline the First Avenue main room?

Lars Pruitt: It's a bit of a religious experience, I would say, sort of a hallowed ground. We are not worthy. We approach it very cautiously, and we're grateful to be in there. We would have done Target Center, but there's something about First Ave that's really special.

Zach McCormick: Yeah, hey, next year, you never know. I mean, especially with some of the stages you've been playing on in 2025, some really big shows this last year opening up for Old Dominion at the Grandstand. How did all that come together for you? And what was that experience like?

Lars Pruitt: So I met Trevor Rosen, who is sort of piano, guitar, songwriter extraordinaire in that band. He sings, and we were in a songwriting session in Nashville, and we just connected, like it was one of those moments where you feel like you know you've known somebody for a long time, you become fast friends. He kind of had an older brother vibe for me, and has a lot of similarities, like, he's a family man. Has been doing music in a band, and it was cool to just be able to rub shoulders of somebody that I saw myself in. And so we came fast friends. And honestly, at the first session, we were writing and hanging out, and by the end, he was texting his booking agent and being like, I want to figure out how you guys could open for us. And he was just willing to do favors and just wanting to help us. And there was no pushing of that for me, like it was just this genuine, generous spirit that he was giving me. And I was like, dang, this is awesome. We'd love to do whatever we can do. And it lined up perfectly that they happened to be in the Twin Cities in the summer, and it was at the State Fair, and all the stars aligned, and we got to open for him. So it was really special.

Jake Felstow: Wasn't he kind of like, "Yeah, we're playing this Minnesota show, the State Fair. Would you guys want to do that?"

Zach Beinlich: We're like, “Yeah, we know what that is.”

Lars Pruitt: “Yeah, we can fit that in, I suppose.”

Zach McCormick: He's probably thinking it's like, yeah, you know the county fair, not our biggest gig.

Lars Pruitt: Yeah, they're massive. They have a ton of success. So for them to just throw us a bone like that, I would argue, offered no ticket sales to that. We just showed up and got introduced to 14,000 people. So that was really sweet of them. And it felt good to have one of those magic open the door opportunities.

Zach McCormick: Well, speaking of opening the door, I'm excited that you are giving your fans an opportunity to catch a really awesome opener for your show at First Avenue, the singer-songwriter that Current listeners might know already, a guy named Laamar. But for folks that maybe haven't heard his music, why should they get there early to see Laamar's set before your guys' on Saturday?

Lars Pruitt: Laamar is a really special artist, because I feel like his lived experience really comes through in his music, and he has a lot of, I think, really profound and useful things to say, and I think he's great. I think the music sounds really cool, and I know his band a little bit. And so there's some rubbing of shoulders over the years in the scene, and we were just thinking of somebody that would be a good fit for the show, and he was the first person we reached out to. And thankfully, he said yes. And I mean, he'll probably be headlining that stage sooner than later, and I feel like it was nice of him to hop on the bill with us.

Zach McCormick: It feels like a really great fit too. You know, you were mentioning your background and kind of more of like a pop and R&B sound when Yam Haus first got started. And he's got that kind of soul meets Americana type of thing going on too. So it's a really great fit. We are so excited for your show. Yam Haus performing at the First Avenue main room this Saturday, January 10. Before we wrap up, guys, anything else in 2026 that you want to talk about? For instance, the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival — you'll be performing in that as well.

Lars Pruitt: Yeah, this summer, we're going to be on stage with an insane lineup, and we're really excited about it. We're mostly just going to be fans that day, probably. We will sneak in, I don't know how long, like, probably a 45 minute set. So get there early if you want to see us, but it's going to be a iconic summer day in Minnesota, and we're honored to be at the Minnesota Yacht Club, it's gonna be great.

Zach McCormick: Yam Haus headlining the First Avenue main room this Saturday, January 10, with support from Laamar. Lars, Jake, Zach. Thank you so much for joining me in the studio today, fellas.

Yam Haus: Glad to be here. Yeah, thanks for having us.

Credits

Guests – Lars Pruitt, Zach Beinlich, Jake Felstow
Host – Zach McCormick
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Digital Producer – Natalia Toledo

External Links

Yam Haus Official Website - https://www.yamhaus.com/