Conversation so far:
what is the origin of neutral milk hotel?
Jeff Mangum, along with high-school friends Will Cullen Hart and Bill Doss, formed The Olivia Tremor Control.
what was their first  release?
Mangum appearing on their first release, the California Demise 7".

Question: did they have a different name when they started?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Neutral Milk Hotel have a different name when they started?