I think this is changing. I wrote an article on this at Big League Politics (”Gimme that Old time Nostalgia”). Some of the modern acts are very good, exceptional lyrics. No, not a lot of guitars. Unfortunately, rap “solos” have replaced guitar solos, sax solos, and keyboards.
But some of the music is very good. I say this as one who opened for Steppenwolf, the James Gang, Savoy Brown, hung out with the Allman Brothers, played with Jim McCarty (”Devil With a Blue Dress”), and so on.
I saw Steppenwolf in Oregon, amazing show...John Kay was magnificent!
How cool for you to have opened for them!
Ed
On the subject of not a lot of guitars - or none, actually - I happen to like this group called Mouse on the Keys who are a part of the Math Rock genre (no idea why it is called that, though). I'd call them prog/jazz with a tinge of hip hop mixed in (but not in a bad way), but mostly I hear a mix of Joe Jackson, Bruce Hornsby, old Genesis, and whatever jazz pianist has influenced the two piano players in the group. No guitars, just piano, drums, and horns, and best of all, no lyrics. Wish I'd checked them out when they were in the area recently since they don't come to North America much (they are from Japan), but definitely a band worth checking out, IMO.
Here is what I think is their latest album, and here is the album release show for that album.