MMOC Blog #1 - Where did the name Marshmellow Overcoat come from?

"What does Marshmellow Overcoat mean?
Honestly, I used to get pissed off getting asked it on a regular basis.  Then one day I realized - I should be grateful when people care enough to ask. "

MMOC is starting a blog.  And I’m a huge bodybuilder so I’m going to write all of them.  Welcome.  So, how to start off?  I’m thinking the most pressing issue we should address in this first blog is the question we are asked nearly every day:  What does Marshmellow Overcoat mean?
Honestly, I used to get pissed off getting asked it on a regular basis.  Then one day I realized - I should be grateful when people care enough to ask.  So, here it is:
 
The Band.  Have you heard of The Band?  If not, stop reading this and go listen to The Band's self-titled aka The Brown Album.
The Band is my second favorite band, behind The Beatles.  The Beatles are pretty much the musical equivalent of Michael Jordan’s dominance in basketball, but times at least five.
Here are some necessary Michael Jordan highlights since I brought him up.
 
What were we talking about?  Oh right, how we got the name Marshmellow Overcoat.
Well, The Band (Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson) went through several name changes in their early days.  And at one point in the mid to late 60’s lead singer Richard Manuel offered the suggestion Marshmellow Overcoat.  He later mentioned this in The Band and Scorcese’s concert film The Last Waltz.
 
It wasn’t a logical name choice for us, but we went with it as a bit of a tribute to The Band.  They backed Dylan in their early years and went on to make a few of my favorite albums, so it makes a bit of sense after all.  We later found out there was a band with the same name in the Arizona 90’s grunge scene (not sure how we missed that).  Evidently every band name has been used at this point.  That is why we changed Mallow to Mellow.  We’re not really all that mellow - Especially me, since I tend to say what I think.  Al is much kinder and patient for example.  And he’s a much better driver than I am.  He even looks a bit like a healthier Jerry Garcia.
 
So, watch The Last Waltz if you haven't seen it.  That brings us to another question:  Why did we choose the slogan Classic Rock for today?
Really it’s simply because we’re a bit pretentious and not all that creative.  That and 90% of my favorite music is 60’s and 70’s Classic Rock, from the Stones to Elton John, along with some 90’s stuff like Pearl Jam and Elliott Smith.  I’m not a big fan of the 80’s or 2000’s popular stuff.  My goal as a musician has been to be different from that.  Our generation is lacking as far as Tom Petty/Bob Dylan/Neil Young-style songwriting and we're trying to fill that void.  I guess I miss the John Lennons and the Billy Joels.  There was some great music in the 80’s and there are amazing artists (many Indie) out today, but what I’m aiming at is really a 1965-1973 sort of sound.  Maybe that makes sense - More likely I’m insane.
 
But there you have it.  Be on the lookout for more blogs, and please let us know if you have any topic suggestions for us in the future.  And check out our new album at marshmellowovercoat.com!
 
-Tyler