bands with crazy assortments of instruments

[orioles70]

one of the first things I noticed about ELO back in the '70s was that they had more people with more instruments on stage than the other bands in the top 40
Chicago with their horn section was also popular at the time.
I loved both groups and the extra instruments certainly helped them have a unique and fresh sound to stand out from the 3 guitars and a drum set bands.
Roy and Wizzard also fit the "everything and the kitchen sink, too" wall of sound category.

one band that is like this today is the Decemberists and I like them, too - even if the songwriter(s) aren't as melodically gifted as Jeff
they must have a really big tour bus to hold all this stuff

Current members

Colin Meloy – vocals, guitars, bouzouki, harmonica (2000–present)

Nate Query – upright bass, electric bass, cello, backing vocals (2000–2003, 2004–present)

Jenny Conlee – keyboards, piano, organ, accordion, glockenspiel, backing vocals (2000–present)

Chris Funk – guitars, pedal steel, dobro, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals (2004–present)

John Moen – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2005–present)

what other current bands come to mind? 

[Chippa]

I love The Decemberists, and I think they even covered an ELO song or two live, a few years ago.

Getting to your question, the first band that came to mind was, ironically, The Band....



Rick Danko – electric bass, vocals, guitar, double bass, fiddle
Levon Helm – drums, vocals, mandolin, guitar, percussion
Garth Hudson – organ, keyboards, accordion, saxophones
Richard Manuel – piano, drums, organ, vocals
Robbie Robertson – guitars, vocals, percussion