The recently coined "Americana" genre that Seattle songwriter Laura Veirs inhabits is underpinned by a yearning to reconnect with the land. In Veirs's case, this literally means the land. The former geology student takes her inspiration from rocks and minerals, producing semi-acoustic sketches of mountain storms and canyons. But this tour-opening show was about the other rock: the stuff played on guitars, capable of making even alt-folkies sound like they're fuelled by something stronger than wheatgrass juice. I blame her backing boys, the Tortured Souls, one of whom (ponytailed guitarist Karl Blau) was such a shrinking violet that he was also the support act.

They sent Veirs surging on a wave of volume and spikiness that worked unexpected wonders on songs from the new Year of Meteors album. These are beguiling enough on CD, but a bit of rough handling here, including some scratchy electronic garnish, made all the difference. If Veirs attains the success she seems poised for (that Tori Amos-shaped niche will be ready soon), she'd better slap golden handcuffs on the Souls, who are as much a part of the show as she is. She herself was occasionally flirtatious, often mesmerising and always charming. Her knock-kneed nerd-girl persona ("Wow, this room is like being inside a cake!") evoked a protectiveness that excused less-than-perfect singing. With her, it's not about technique, but the dusky, raw beauty of elemental songs like Lost Seaflower Cove and Cool Water. She sang Spelunking in the dark to dramatise its metaphorical "caverns of my heart" lyric; and, by way of contrast to that guitar-based crunchiness, slipped in an acoustic segment from the last album, Carbon Glacier. It was apt that Veirs launched her UK tour on the first day of autumn, the season for which her music might have been created. Its gathering-in quality lingered long after the show ended.

· At Moles, Bath (01225 404445), on October 9. Then touring.