Yam Haus

A lot of musical acts try to build on the success of their early music. But for indie pop-rock band Yam Haus, each time they release new music is a new step in their musical evolution particularly this time around.

It’s been a half-decade, a lot of touring, three EPs, more than a dozen singles, a lost band member, an appearance on American Song Contest, and a global pandemic since the Minneapolis-based trio last put forth a project. In other words, the Yam Haus preparing to release new music in 2023 is nothing like the kids who took the Midwest by storm a handful of years ago.

“I feel like so much has happened since the first songs and this doesn't even feel like it's our follow up,” says guitarist Zach Beinlich. “I feel like a new band. We have a totally different way that we're approaching how we create music.”

“I genuinely feel less concerned about whether or not the next album is going to be ‘successful’ at this point,” adds singer and guitarist Lars Pruitt. “All I’m really concerned about is doing right by us and making something that we feel motivated to play live and love every inch of it for years to come. I’m just trying to do things in a way that’s super honest to us and our tastes and hopefully the fans come along with us.”

As one of the newest additions to Big Loud Rock’s roster, Yam Haus’ search for authenticity has found the perfect home. Pruitt, Beinlich, and drummer Jake Felstow know they could’ve gone down a more mainstream pop-friendly rabbit hole for their new releases if they’d listened to the industry suits and producers around them after their sold-out headlining shows before the pandemic. Instead, they spent their time taking their music in a new direction.

The result is a catchy blend of indie rock that still serves up the unforgettable hooks Yam Haus became known for, while also bringing a new level of songwriting maturity and musical complexity to their tracks. The band is growing up alongside the Gen Z audience that dove into their old music, while also allowing their personality and humor to shine a bit more and earn an expanded audience with the new stuff.

“We're really excited about the new music, because it feels like it’s the first time in a long time that we’re creating it as a unified front,” Felstow says. “That’s exciting for us, and hopefully it translates to the people listening to the music. We really put our best foot forward, and we’re loving it.”

“Even if it fails, at least it fails on our terms,” Pruitt adds. “The worst-case scenario is to make compromises, do things based on what other people think, and still not have it go very well. That’s not to say that’s what we’ve done up to this point, but we just realized we need to take an inventory of what we wanted. We made sure we were doing it for the right reasons and not just what we were being told to do.” “We’re making and releasing whatever we're feeling at that moment,” Beinlich concludes. “I think we’ve done a good job with that so far, and it’s given us a couple of songs that are very different from what we might’ve done in the past. They may not feel like they fit with everything else that we’re doing — like one song has a trumpet in it — but it always just feels like what we need to get out at that point. We’re not trying to fit something in where it doesn’t belong, but if it feels right and we like it, we put it out.”

So far, that policy has been working out for Yam Haus and pleasing fans throughout the twists and turns of their musical journey. Ahead of the new music’s launch, the band started performing tracks that haven’t even officially been released at recent shows. And much to their surprise, their audience started singing the lyrics back to them after learning the songs from social media and single releases.

But despite the sustained success on both sides of the pandemic, Yam Haus feels like they’re just getting started. At the very least, Pruitt’s committed to the journey in ways not easily changed.

“I got the band tattooed on my ass, so I’m here for the long game.”

Past Shows


Nov
17
th
2023
First Avenue
Nov
17
th
2023
First Avenue

Yam Haus

★ Local Show ★
with Sawyer
Oct
28
th
2022
First Avenue
Oct
28
th
2022
First Avenue

Sammy Rae & The Friends

with Yam Haus
May
1
st
2022
7th St Entry
May
1
st
2022
7th St Entry

An Evening with
Yam Haus

LOUD, EXPERIMENTAL, AND UP CLOSE
Dec
17
th
2021
Palace Theatre
Dec
17
th
2021
Palace Theatre

Yam Haus

with DNM
Apr
9
th
2021
First Avenue
Apr
9
th
2021
First Avenue

Yam Haus

Livestream ⏤ Live from First Avenue
Dec
13
th
2019
Mainroom
Dec
13
th
2019
Mainroom

Yam Haus

with Graveyard Club and Dwynell Roland
Apr
5
th
2019
Fine Line
Apr
5
th
2019
Fine Line

Yam Haus and Early Eyes

with Last Import
Jan
4
th
2019
Mainroom
Jan
4
th
2019
Mainroom

First Avenue's BEST NEW BANDS OF 2018

with Annie Mack, The Carnegies, Faith Boblett and more!
Nov
3
rd
2018
Mainroom
Oct
24
th
2018
Turf Club
Oct
24
th
2018
Turf Club

Step Rockets and Yam Haus

FREE with RSVP
with HENRY JAMES PATTERSON
Jul
17
th
2018
7th St Entry
Jul
17
th
2018
7th St Entry

Yam Haus

with Author
May
11
th
2018
Mainroom
May
11
th
2018
Mainroom

Bishop Briggs

with Yam Haus and JORDAN ALAMAT (Go Radio)
May
1
st
2018
7th St Entry
May
1
st
2018
7th St Entry

The Brevet

with Whosah and Yam Haus
Feb
21
st
2018
7th St Entry
Feb
21
st
2018
7th St Entry

More Shows

May
2
nd
Turf Club

Papooz

Apr
21
st
First Avenue

James Bay

Mar
1
st
First Avenue

Michael Marcagi

Feb
11
th
7th St Entry

Eddie 9V