Update, March 22:
Here is Yam Haus’s performance of “Ready to Go,” from the qualifier episode that aired Monday, March 21. Voting for this week’s artists happens at asc.vote.nbc.com; voting closes Wednesday at 6 a.m. CDT.

When NBC first emailed local band Yam Haus about representing Minnesota in its new show, American Song Contest, the band wasn't sure if it was spam. "This being the first year of this show, I think we had a little more hesitation," bassist Zach Beinlich explains. After being able to gain more information and talk to more people, he says, "it switched from, 'Should we do this?' to 'Oh my gosh, I hope we can do this.'"

To make up for the initial skepticism, the band members announced their participation in the most Minnesotan way they could think of: by dunking lead vocalist Lars Pruitt in a frozen lake.

Here's some of what we know so far: American Song Contest premieres live on Monday, March 21, at 7 p.m. CT. Fifty-six acts, one representing each U.S. state, territory, and federal district, are doing a live battle of the bands to win the title of the best song in America. Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg are hosting, and producers from The Voice and the Eurovision Song Contest are helming it.

Most importantly, Yam Haus—which consists of Beinlich, Pruitt, drummer Jake Felstow, and guitarist Seth Blum—are going up against the likes of Jewel, Michael Bolton, and Macy Gray to hopefully bring home the trophy to Minnesota with their unreleased song, "Ready to Go."

Beinlich had begun the heart of the song back during lockdown days in April 2020, and the whole band finished it last December during the California stop on its fall tour. Word has it that the song is a little more Oasis and Blur than previous tracks—"an American take on '90s Brit pop, Brit rock," Pruitt says. (Blum jokes that's what made it perfect for an American Eurovision.)

"I think [when we create music] we lead more with, 'Is this exciting and do we like it?' more than 'Is this fitting with a certain type of sound that is us for Yam Haus?'" Pruitt adds. "We don't really feel intimidated or we can't experiment or put something out than what we're used to because, genuinely, it seems like people in Minneapolis and in the Twin Cities, greater Twin Cities, and Minnesota are just really open to and interested in local music."

When I interviewed them, the band was already in Los Angeles, going through dress rehearsals and initial wardrobe. They're also channeling the ghost of Paul Bunyan and hoping that the elves of Netflix's Eurovision movie will help with their performance, if their jokes are to believed. Pruitt makes the compelling argument that he and Will Ferrell's character share the same name.

Yam Haus aren't the only act prepping for the first episode, but COVID safety protocols are keeping everyone pretty separate. As more people are trickling in, though, they have been able to start meeting some other acts. "I'm super excited to see what their songs are and what their performances look like, too. It will be a mystery largely until the night of," Blum says.

"It kind of just feels surreal," drummer Jake Felstow sums up, noting that the day of our interview also was the day they dropped the finale of their five-part tour documentary. "Seth and Lars spent a lot of time editing it, and we put it out there in the world, and we were like, wow, we can't believe we got to do that three-month tour this last fall with Blue October, and now we get to do this opportunity, which is by far the biggest opportunity we've ever had."

He continues, "Just to have all that within a five- or six-month period of time is so surreal after not doing anything during COVID for, what, a year and a half or so? Just [doing] live streams and wondering if we'll ever get to play music in front of people in real life again, and now to have these opportunities—it does just feel like… we're so glad we didn't give up, you know?"

Whether they win or lose the American Song Contest, the band is going on a 10-stop tour in May with the closest local stop in Chicago.

Watch American Song Contest on Monday, March 21 at 7 p.m. Central on NBC.

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days of Spring series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.