Take It Or Leave It 10 From 10

Mario’s Answers
What would your autobiography be called?
Monetizing Mario. My wife always jokes that I have the skills to do whatever I want, I just need to figure out how to monetize it. My background in video, audio, and live production has snowballed over the years, so now it’s just a matter of applying it all. That title feels like the perfect summary of where I’m at and what I’m trying to do day-to-day.

If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be?
I was talking about this with some friends recently, but I really miss cargo pants. Not the look, just the utility. When I was working in live theater, I always had cables or tools stashed in every pocket. I don’t even know if it was a trend or just what my younger self wore constantly, but it was incredibly convenient

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What song never fails to lift your mood?
Superman by Goldfinger. It takes me right back to the warehouse in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and that connection always brings a smile to my face. Ska music in general does it for me, especially in the winter. There’s something about putting it on when it’s cold and instantly being reminded of summer that just hits right.

What’s something you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t yet?
I’ve always wanted to learn how to play brass instruments. Trumpet, trombone, anything with a horn section. Since I’m such a big ska fan, it’s something I’ve always felt drawn to. Hopefully one day I can pick one up and at least figure out the basics.

What’s the most-used app on your phone?
Reddit, and it’s not even close. I go down rabbit holes every day. In the fall, the Sleeper app probably catches up because I’m obsessed with fantasy football, but Reddit still wins. It probably drains 50 to 75 percent of my phone battery daily.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t stop making music just because it gets hard. People will come and go, bands will break up, but that doesn’t mean the music has to stop. I took too long of a break between projects and I regret it now. I’d tell younger me to push through the rough patches and keep creating.

If you had to be stuck in a video game for a week, which one would you choose?
I’ve got nearly 1,000 hours logged in Valheim, a Viking survival game, so that feels like the obvious answer. It would be tough to survive, but if I didn’t have to worry about dying in real life, I’d absolutely go sailing and live out my Viking dreams for a week.

If you had a theme song that played every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
I already have a theme song (shoutout to Nintendo), but if I had to pick another one, it would be Came Out Swinging by The Wonder Years. It’s one of those songs that explodes when it comes on. In my friend group, it’s legendary. We’ve played it at all our weddings, and the circle pits are core memories now. It’d be the perfect entrance song.

What’s a food you irrationally love or hate?
Mint chocolate chip ice cream. I can’t stand it. Mint and chocolate just don’t belong together. This is a hill I’m willing to die on and no amount of logic is going to change my mind.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Wannabe by Spice Girls. No hesitation. I was a huge girl pop fan as a kid and I still know every word. I actually performed it once at a live band karaoke night in Orlando. The host pointed out where the lyric screen was and I just said “don’t worry, I got this.” Absolutely crushed it. Two bachelorette parties were in the front row and eating it up. My wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) had the flu, so she couldn’t come up with me, but maybe in her mind that was for the best.

Devon’s Answers
What is your creative process when making music?
I’ll say something or think something and be like “hey, that’s a good line/idea/phrase” and jot it down on anything I can. So I have stacks of napkins, pizza boxes, notebooks, receipts covered in ideas for lyrics. Then I kinda fiddle with a guitar till I play something I like and kinda plug in various scraps of lyrics until they click. Then it’s just a matter of massaging it all together. But the important thing is to write down everything that pops into my head.

What was your worst performance?
I was opening for a pretty big name band, and the first hit of the floor tom, first note of the set, the head split clean in half, totally unplayable. We cut immediately and then had to awkwardly sit on stage while my buddy ran to his apartment to grab his. Absolutely mortifying. Now I keep backups of everything.

How do you nurture your own creativity?
I try to ingest 3 things I like at a time, and 1 thing I’ve never heard of before (books, bands, games, movies etc). This keeps me from staying rooted in the same shit I’ve liked for 20 years while allowing space to explore new stuff to draw inspiration from.

Which instrument is your favourite to play?
Is drums too obvious? It’s like dancing, hitting things, and howling simultaneously. It’s physically expressive in every way possible. Nothing else comes close in terms of feeling like I’ve completely and honestly expressed how I’m feeling as playing drums.

What would you say is your greatest strength as an artist?
I’m good at picking up vibes. It’s easy for me to pick up on other people’s emotions and what they’re trying to say, so it gives me an advantage when trying to write parts that fit what the rest of the band is playing and what the song is trying to communicate.

What would you say is your greatest weakness as an artist?
My ADHD ass is never not thinking too much about everything all the time. That allergy to silence translates musically into overplaying and doing way too much. I’d say 10% of my energy goes into writing a part, 60% goes into editing it down into something reasonable, and 30% is slipping the extra shit back in when no one is watching you.

Who is your favourite musician?
Tough call but Jack White. He’s legendary on guitar, but he’s a monster drummer as well. Plus he kinda hops genre a bunch, but a lot of his trademark blues roots and riff-heavy shit are still identifiable. I’ve discovered a lot of killer music from people he’s worked with or bands that have played with him. His sensibilities are extremely my shit.

Future plans or hopes?
I’m super excited to play out on the road a bit more. I love getting to see different places, and feeling the different energies and scenes outside of our comfort zone. It’s a very grounding and humanizing experience.

What is the most useless talent you have?
I was really into card magic for a while in college, so I learned all kinds of fancy shuffles and card tricks. Never had the courage to go full David Blaine and do it on the street, but it’s useful for entertaining drunk people once in a while. Oh, and no one wants to play poker with me anymore so there’s that.

What is your favourite song to perform?
Some Things Never Change, hands down. The intro has this explosive setup and the whole song is a blast to play. Plus it’s one of our angrier songs so it’s a blank check to hit hard and scream at the mic. I have to check myself so I don’t get carried away with energy and speed up like mad almost every time we play it.

Craig’s Answers
How do you deal with disinterested or unruly audiences?
I generally like to use humor and/or try to interact with the audience when an audience seems to be not ideal. It breaks the ice and eases tensions. If that fails, play a cover that everyone knows.

Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Yes. A lot. From Dionne Warwick to Andrew WK to Zeppelin.

Do you prefer to work alone or collaboratively?
It depends. When an idea comes to mind, I prefer to come up with the foundation alone. I like to iron everything out as a group though. If somebody else brings an idea to the table, it’s up to them to decide how to go about it.

What are your favourite venues to perform at?
Anywhere that has good sound for both the audience and the performer.

What inspires you as an artist?
Personal anger, real-life situations, and relatability.

Do you have trouble with performance anxiety and how do you overcome it?
ALWAYS fake it till you make it. Once that is the norm, comfort slips in and the making it replaces the faking it.

How do you think your previous bandmates would describe you?
When there is a common goal, they think I’m easy to work with. Most other past bandmates have asked me to work on future projects with them.

What interests or hobbies do you have outside of music?
Woodworking, video games, MTG, family time, LEGO, going to zoos, etc. Too many.

What first got you into music?
My dad was heavily into rock of the 60s–70s. Green Day was my gateway into punk rock. My old roommate got me into bass.

What is your proudest accomplishment as a musician?
The releases of several EPs along with opening for much bigger acts throughout my career.

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.

https://linktr.ee/music.takeitorleaveit
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