Laura Veirs: Bush Hall, London

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.