Indie-rock pioneer Conor Oberst and acoustic upstart Kurt Vile are coming to San Diego.

Oberst, best known for his band Bright Eyes, is touring to support his eighth album, the critically acclaimed The People’s Key. Joining Oberst on the album are Bright Eyes’ usual suspects, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott.

According to Oberst, The People’s Key is a change of direction for a band known for its folky sound:

We’re over the Americana, rootsy, whatever that sound is. People say country but I never thought we were very country at all. But whatever that element is or that aesthetic is, I guess it’s worn a little thin for me these days. So we very much wanted it to be rocking and, for lack of a better term, contemporary, or modern.

Despite the Key change, the record is distinctly Bright Eyes, with Oberst’s unique lyrics and delivery always at the center.

http://youtu.be/63KB-EJKdyI

Oberst isn’t the only one who’s been logging hours in the recording studio lately. Kurt Vile, who was recently joined by Thurston Moore at the Casbah, will return to San Diego in support of his 2011 album, Smoke Ring for My Halo. The stripped stylings of Vile — yes, that’s his real name — have earned him heaps of praise, and it’s not all hyperbole; Smoke Ring for My Halo is one of the best albums of the year.

That’s why we’re pleased to be offering five pairs of tickets to see Bright Eyes and Kurt Vile at Soma on September 21. To enter the contest, click this link and add your name to the comments. It’s that simple.