BIO
Take It Or Leave It is a punk band from Rockland County, New York. Loud, energetic, and emotionally honest, they blend catchy hooks with raw punk, performing high-energy shows that mix originals and “punkified” covers. Known for their consistency and connection to the crowd, TIOLI treats every set like it matters, because it does. They’ve also leaned into livestreams to connect with fans who can’t always make it to shows. The band embraces the nickname Pasta Rock, a playful nod to the way “TIOLI” sounds like “ravioli.” It’s more than just a rhyme, it’s a vibe. Pasta Rock forever.
Introduce us to the band! What are your names and what do you do in the band?
We’re Mario, Devon, and Craig from Take It Or Leave It. Mario plays guitar, Devon’s on drums, and Craig handles bass and lead vocals. All three of us sing. Mario also runs most of the behind-the-scenes stuff like booking, management, and social media.
Where do you call home?
We all grew up in Rockland County, New York and still practice there today.
How long have you been together as a band and how did you find each other?
We started the band in 2021. Back then, we had a different drummer and guitarist, but we quickly shifted to Devon on drums for just our second live set. Mario and Craig met through the original drummer, who was an old coworker of Mario’s and old bandmate of Craig’s. They clicked right away and knew something special was starting. Four years later, we’re still going strong.
Do you have a special songwriting recipe you follow?
We try to make sure everyone brings something to the table, whether it’s a lyric, a beat, or a riff. It doesn’t matter how small, it just has to spark something. Some songs are built collaboratively in the room, others get fleshed out on our own and brought back in pieces. Each one is different. It’s like waiting for a wave, we just catch the one that feels right.
How would members of your family describe your music to someone that hasn’t heard it?
They’d probably just call it punk rock. “Pop punk” might not be in their vocabulary, but they know it’s fast, emotional, and fun. Our families support us because they see how much time and passion we put into it.
What do you have on your (Spotify) playlists you would be embarrassed for others to see?
We don’t really get embarrassed. Our music libraries are wide open. Between the three of us, we listen to just about everything. Name a genre or artist, odds are one of us is bumping it.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
We like to get to the venue early enough that we’re not rushing. There’s nothing worse than stress-loading gear or flying through a soundcheck. If we’re calm before we hit the stage, we can really let loose once the set starts.
Who have you met that has left you starstruck?
Between the three of us, we’ve met a few people in different industries, but nobody that fully stopped us in our tracks. That said, if we ever ran into Dave Grohl or Chris Evans, we’d probably all go a little wide-eyed. We’re musicians, gamers, and nerds, so our list is probably longer than we even realize.
What do you consider your greatest achievement as far as a band?
Our livestream performances have been a huge accomplishment. Not many bands know how to do them properly, and fewer actually follow through. We’ve been able to pull it off with solid audio, visuals, and engagement, and it’s something we’re proud to keep doing.
What key elements do you believe make up a successful song?
It needs something sticky, a melody, a riff, a groove. It doesn’t matter what part it is, but one element has to live in your head rent-free. Most hit songs follow a pattern, sure, but that’s not what makes them work. It’s about creating a reason to come back to it. That’s how we define success in a song.
When writing, how do you know when it is finally done?
Truthfully, nothing is ever “done.” There’s always something we could tweak or rework, but we draw the line at “record-ready.” That’s the goal. To get it tight enough to track. The rest can evolve in the live set. Once we run out of changes and everyone’s locked in, we call it done.
What song of yours are you most proud of?
“Some Things Never Change” and “Run” are the ones we hold closest. “Run” kicks off our EP and sets the tone with catchy vocals and a big breakdown. “Some Things Never Change” is a protest song at heart, a call-and-response anthem for people who are sick of empty promises and political posturing. Both feel like true representations of what we’re about.
Is it possible to be on the road and not eat junk food? How do you keep it leveled out?
If we’re on the road without a kitchen, junk food is inevitable. That said, we’re all decent cooks, so give us a chance and we’ll throw something better together. But yeah, we’re not going to pretend we don’t crush chips and fast food on tour.
Are you able to write while on the road or do you need a calm familiar space like home?
We write wherever the mood strikes. Craig likes to bring a legal pad to the park and work there while his son plays. I think we all have places that help us get in the zone. Craig’s basement is still home base, but if inspiration hits at a rest stop or hotel, we’ll roll with it.
What’s the most embarrassing thing to happen on stage or on tour?
The Delancey once told us we couldn’t wear hats on stage. We had a photographer there and everything, and it kind of threw off the vibe. Then during that same show, the PA speaker kept tipping over and knocked out the pedalboard power mid-set. The photos came out great, but that night was something else.
What can BleachBANGS do to help you in any way?
You’re already doing it! Having a space to tell our story and share what we’re about is incredibly helpful. It gives fans a deeper look into who we are beyond the stage and socials. Just keep doing what you’re doing, it really does matter.
How can everyone keep up with everything you have going on? Where can they get albums/merch?
You can find everything at our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/music.takeitorleaveit
That’ll take you to our socials, streaming links, merch, and more. Think of it like a choose-your-own-adventure, just click the path that works best for you and let’s go from there. Happy to have you on board!
LINK TREE
https://linktr.ee/music.takeitorleaveit
MEMBERS
Craig Chalfin – Bass, Vocals
Mario Frascone – Guitar, Manager
Devon Beuschel – Drums
SOCIALS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeitorleaveit_band
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takeitorleaveitband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItOrLeaveIt_band
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tioli-band.bsky.social
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitorleaveit_band
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/takeitorleaveit_band
MUSIC
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/takeitorleaveit-872042877
BandCamp: https://takeitorleaveitband.bandcamp.com/album/tunnel-vision
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5S60w9S5bvsF4qM00hjf6V?si=JBUdwxl-RAOxAYjsp_maxw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/take-it-or-leave-it/1777896776
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B017WY07QI/take-it-or-leave-it?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_T8xEQeAy5t6qutx57HmfJAmEN
