So one of the best groups going is The Mountain Goats. They play songs in the storytelling folk tradition that has been a mainstay of American culture for, well, always. If you are looking for excellent contemporary American poetry / stories, the songs John Darnielle writes are a lovely place to start.
The group has recorded a song about Super Tuesday. You can listen to it here. The lyrics are printed below the embedded player. You may be able to tell that Darnielle has a pretty dark view of the political scene. You may also be able to tell that he is a huge fan of metal.
