Nick Cave is a polarizing figure. The Australian singer-songwriter and his band The Bad Seeds have been creating skewed rootsy folk-blues-country-rock for more years than I've been born, but they're always going to have as many detractors as they have overzealous supporters. When you're as weird as Nick Cave, have as many songs that meander into religious allegory, and have as full a mustache, you're bound to make a strong impression, whether it be positive or negative. You can colour me a fan, although not as strong a fan as many people I know. His last album Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! was so-so at best (despite having a kick-ass title), but the intensity of his live performances will more than makeup for that. Plus, you can be sure he'll perform "The Mercy Seat", "Straight To You", "Henry Lee" and all those other classics. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds play tonight at the Kool Haus.