A herd, a horde....?

So on Sunday, being impressed with all the new people in the band, I referred to them as a herd (or horde) of musicians.

Anxious to point out all of the times I messed up on Sunday, I was solemnly informed at production meeting that many musicians together do not form a herd and that the term is derogatory. Realizing how sensitive some musical types are I offered up...

A herd
A horde
A wad
A slug (thanks, Kim!)
A handful
A steaming pile (my favorite!)
A gaggle
A pride (yeah, like that is wrong!)
A bucketload

Of which none were good enough. So I asked,

What is a steaming pile of musicians called?

And I was told

A band.

A band?!

How boring is that? Can't you at least be a merry band of musicians? Why just a band? Well, I have accepted it...I will no longer use the improper term for multiple musicians again...they are now a band.