Jasen Rauch remembers the musical atmosphere of West Texas and he’s ready to return.
It was 2004, and Rauch’s band Red was performing at Rock the Desert, the annual Christian music festival held in Midland every August from 1999 to 2019. The crowd and the area left a good impression.
Now lead guitarist for Breaking Benjamin, Rauch is scheduled to return to the Odessa-Midland area with his bandmates and he’s ready for that West Texas hospitality.
“It’s a great spot,” Rauch said in a phone interview. “People are great. There’s good food out there, so we’re looking forward to coming back.”
“Breaking Benjamin: Unplugged” is scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the event starts at 8 p.m. The evening will begin with a solo set by rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Keith Wallen.
“It’s exciting to see him open,” Rauch said. “We watch him every time he plays. We’re obviously biased, but we think he’s a phenomenal musician and writer, so that’s great for us because we get to see somebody play that we’re not only fans of but is also our best friend.”
With their first release “Saturate” in 2002, the band has had 10 Number 1 songs, with many going platinum and multi-platinum. Their last studio album, “Ember,” debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and marked Breaking Benjamin’s fourth Top 5 debut on the chart.
Rauch joined the band in 2014 and first appeared on 2015’s “Dark Before Dawn,” but received songwriting credits on the 2009 album “Dear Agony.”
With an extensive catalog of songs, the acoustic set will allow the band to switch up their playing style. A full rock production, like their tour dates in March, is more set in stone in terms of performance and songs. The acoustic show allows for more interaction with the audience and is played in smaller venues.
“It’s a wild experience, because we have the opportunity to be more intimate with the crowd,” Rauch said. “It’s much more laid back in our eyes, because it’s such a personal experience.”
Describing the acoustic show as more aligned with seeing friends play on stage, Rauch said the band occasionally plays songs they have not played in years to see if they can still perform them.
If someone messes up, frontman Benjamin Burnley will pour a shot of alcohol for the band (Burnley himself does not drink). Rauch said no two shows are ever the same.
“There’s a lot of laughs, there’s a lot of sing-alongs,” he said. “We throw some covers in there, It’s just a fun night overall.”
If you go
- What: Breaking Benjamin Unplugged.
- Where: Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, 1310 N. FM 1788, Midland.
- When: Doors open at 7 p.m. Jan. 23. Event starts at 8 p.m. Event begins with solo set by guitarist Keith Wallen.
- Cost: Reserved seating is between $36 and $116. Platinum is between $56 and $92, and VIP packages are between $151 and $376.
- Call: 432-552-4435 for more information.
- Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/3p5ad6rz
