Daniel Ingala, keyboardist/vocalist for the keyboard-pop band Plushgun, says his older brother listened to a lot of new wave during the '80s.
"He came of age back then," said Ingala during a phone call from his Brooklyn apartment. "I was a little younger, but heard it all. My fondest memories are of watching MTV in the '80s.
"So now, when I hear a New Order song, I get all nostalgic."
Ingala, who also listened to classic rock and the Beatles, said when he decided he wanted to make music, it was the new-wave sound that caught his imagination.
"And partly it was easier for me to make music on a computer in my room," Ingala said with a laugh.
However, when he realized he wanted to play the music live, he had to rethink his ideas.
"I could have just gone on stage with my laptop and did a glorified karaoke set," he said. "But I decided that stage presence was important as well."
So, Ingala recruited guitarist Taylor Armstrong and drummer Matt Bogdanow.
The addition of these two musicians also changed things in way of recording Plushgun's synth-pop music, Ingala said.
"When we decided to record our debut CD ('Pins & Panzers'), there were some songs on it that appeared on the previous extended play ('Dancing in a Minefield')," he said, "So we redid them and added live drums and guitar.
"It added a new dimension to the music," Ingala said. "And also added to the live show, because live it's a three-dimensional new-wave sound."
The live shows always surprise Ingala. He said he is constantly amazed at how many people know his music.
"We recently did a show in Spain," he said. "And as we were playing, I looked into the audience and saw everyone singing our songs in English.
"It took me aback because here we were, an American band playing in a country in Europe and they were singing our songs, not in their native language, but ours.
"It shows the impact of the Internet on music and audiences," Ingala said. "It's still amazing to me.
"At the same time, there is so much stuff on the Internet to choose from. And I feel that something has to be special to capture someone's attention. And I'm glad many people think we're special."
If you go
What: Nightmare of You, Plushgun, Brian Bonz
Where: SHO, 4969 S. State
When: July 2, 6:30 p.m.
How much: $10
Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com