Take It Or Leave It is a punk rock band from Rockland County, NY blending raw energy with catchy pop punk hooks. Influenced by Rancid, Alkaline Trio, The Offspring, Blink-182, and NOFX, their music is rowdy, melodic, and emotionally charged.
The band started in 2021. Craig and Mario met through one of Mario’s coworkers who used to play with Craig in another project. That connection led to a jam session, and it immediately felt like something worth building on. They soon brought in Devon, who Mario played with over a decade ago in a similar style band. And in the summer 2025, they brought Nick into the fold on guitar. He and Mario had known each other since just before the band officially came together, so it felt like a natural fit.
Their debut EP Tunnel Vision dropped in November 2024. Self-recorded and later mixed and mastered by Anthony Bilancia at Small Room Studio, the release opens with the high-energy single “Run” and features a punked-up take on the Gin Blossoms classic “Hey Jealousy.” The name Tunnel Vision is a nod to the opening line of the record as well as a reminder to keep focused but stay aware of your surroundings.
Known for their high-energy shows and spontaneous moments, Take It Or Leave It thrives on live performance. Whether you’re catching them at a local venue or one of their occasional YouTube live streams, every show brings something a little different. Like the name says, take it or leave it. They’re not going anywhere, so come along for the ride or get out of their way.
Click here to have a listen & find out more.
(Interview below.)
Members: Devon Beuschel – Drums
Craig Chalfin – Bass, Vocals
Nick Correa – Guitar
Mario Frascone – Guitar, Manager
What advice would you give to people just starting out in music?
Devon (Drums): Stay humble, stay true to the music you love to make, and be supportive of other bands and venues. You’ll open a lot of doors just by being able to communicate professionally.
Craig (Bass): This will not be a career. Only a small percentage of people can make it. Expect to spend more than you make.
Nick (Guitar): Don’t spend your time trying to play stuff you think other people will like. Play the stuff that you enjoy and you’ll find out that there are people out there who dig your sound.
Mario (Guitar): As Shia LaBeouf says, JUST DO IT. Seriously, ignore “the industry” and just go do what you want to do. Don’t look at the likes, the plays, the views, etc. Do it because you are passionate about it.
What were your musical influences growing up?
Devon: Zeppelin from Mom, Patsy Cline from my Dad, NOFX from my sister, and anything from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater or Gran Turismo.
Craig: My dad’s taste in music. Everything from The Steve Miller Band to The Kinks. Then it became alternative rock in the mid 90s. When Green Day’s Dookie came out, I became obsessed with punk rock.
Nick: Growing up I was heavily influenced by Nirvana, Blink 182 and Green Day
Mario: Soundtracks from video games and movies make up a lot of my early influences. Punk stuff like Tony Hawk and Crazy Taxi but also theatrical stuff like 90s Disney or the American Pie movies.
Who did you watch at your first ever gig you attended?
Devon: I watched a local band when I was little and I was glued to the drummer. I didn’t have a kit yet but I went home and tried to play the covers on my drum pad.
Craig: Unwritten Law opened for No Doubt on the Tragic Kingdom Tour.
Nick: The first gig I ever attended was Warped Tour where I got to see so many amazing bands. Sum 41, AFI, Rancid, NOFX just to name a few.
Mario: My first big concert was Yellowcard and All Time Low at Starland Ballroom. I had been to plenty of smaller concerts before that one but this was the first national tour I saw.
How did that gig you watched make you feel?
Devon: My whole brain was like “I WANT TO DO THAT”. The energy, the excitement, it seemed awesome. This was a teenage garage band but they were on a stage and to me, they seemed like Rockstars.
Craig: Being a high school freshman, filled with teenage angst, it made me feel so alive (for lack of a better description).
Nick: It made me wanna be a punk rocker even more. Seeing all the energy and how much people were enjoying themselves was definitely something I felt I wanted to be a part of somehow.
Mario: It was one of those brain-blast moments. The lightbulb went off immediately. I knew performing was what I wanted to do.
What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome to get to where you are now in music?
Devon: Practicing. My brain isn’t very kind to me most days so for a while practicing on my own would make me feel like an imposter or that I’m not good enough. But as I’ve gotten older and life has gotten busier, practice has kind of become a method of self-care and meditation, and I have to actively make time for it. When I deliberately set time aside to work on my skills it helps me build a foundation and confidence in my voice that let’s me try oddball shit or push beyond parts that don’t challenge me, and that kind of keeps my sound evolving along the years.
Craig: Self-doubt.
Nick: Having the confidence that playing/creating music is something that I can do. It’s something that I still struggle with. It’s kind of like imposter syndrome where I feel like I don’t really know what I’m doing but somehow am getting away with it. I obviously do possess some talent otherwise I wouldn’t be where I am today, but confidence is something I still struggle with. Just gotta keep going!
Mario: Finding the right band mates. It’s more than just going up on stage and playing music. It’s the group chats. It’s the late night drive home from a show. It’s the frustration when a part isn’t coming together. Getting everybody aligned is always the most challenging.
What was your best performance?
Devon: Usually the last one we played. If I feel 100% about the parts then I have room to move around and keep the energy high. When I’ve started doing that as much as possible I can start tweaking the parts again for clarity, maximum impact etc. I’m always evolving and trying to elevate what I’m playing.
Craig: I’ve played many shows, so this is an impossible question.
Nick: Best performance would definitely have to be our most recent performance at Olive’s where we won the battle of the bands. We had a show 2 days prior and it was my first show in over 20yrs so I took some notes and made sure to make the improvements for the Olive’s show.
Mario: I think my best performance was when we played Debonair Music Hall this past July. The vibes at the venue were just so good that I didn’t feel the normal amount of nerves I normally feel before we start. I left it all on that stage.
How do you feel about sampling? Do you use sampling?
Devon: We don’t (yet ;D), but I’m all for it. I love the layers of subtext and commentary you can accomplish by referencing certain songs or moods from other songs. It adds a second layer to what you can say with a song and it’s something very attractive to me, I just haven’t put in a ton of time getting it integrated into how I play, but it’s something I’d love to experiment with moving forward.
Craig: As long as there is good reason and permission is given, it’s okay. Bonus points if the new content promotes the source material. It shouldn’t be overused.
Nick: I don’t really have any issues with sampling as long as credit is given. I don’t really use sampling.
Mario: I’m not opposed to sampling but it’s not something I’m necessarily trying to add to our set. Maybe for a song or two, but I’m more of a fan of seeing a musician actually play the part. So maybe we add a synth to the side of the stage for us to play instead of a track on the PA.
If you could choose from a historical gig, from any era, who would you have seen and why?
Devon: Liszt baby! No b*llsh*t. It’d be wild to see the fanaticism and origin of the proto-superstar in person. It’d be cool to see how he stacks up against modern performances you know? It’d be an interesting reference point for the “it” factor 150 years ago and how it’s different (or the same) today.
Craig: Not just one, but an early 90’s gig at 924 Gilman Street that featured Operation Ivy.
Nick: I’m gonna go way back and say either Mozart or Beethoven. Simply because I’d want to see what it was like to experience music that’s hundreds of years old that STILL gets listened to today. What were people’s reactions to new music from them? What was it like being at one of their concerts?
Mario: It has to be Live Aid and specifically to see Queen. This moment will be iconic forever. Yeah there are plenty of other shows I’d consider but this one is just so massive I would hate to miss it if I had a chance to travel back in time.
Do you have a moment you could share with the magazine from your previous gigs or recording experiences?
Devon: It’s not pretty but there was a gig we played in Buffalo where as soon as we got the gear off the stage our guitarist and I went outside and started dry-heaving from exhaustion. It sucked but with the adrenaline riding high, it felt kind of sweet knowing I really gave it everything I physically had in me. Fun fact: it has happened to me almost every show since.
Craig: Not specific, but pretty much whenever a dance pit breaks out in front of me, I love it.
Nick: I learned an important lesson from the first show I ever played which was; never change your strings the day before or the same day as your show. I was thinking I wanted my guitar to be all nice and shiny for the show, but once I pulled it out of my case I noticed one of my strings broke. I must’ve restrung it too tight or something, so I ended up having to borrow a guitar from one of the other bands.
Mario: When we first built the light boxes we use on stage, I had practiced with them a few times during rehearsals but I wasn’t prepared for HOW BRIGHT they are on a dark stage. As soon as I put my foot down to start a solo, I botched the whole thing because I couldn’t even think, let alone see. That was a fun one.
Where and when is your next gig?
TIOLI: We are playing a few shows to end 2025 in Rockland/Essex counties, just outside of New York City but we are also live streamers, so if you aren’t in the area, you can always catch us on YouTube! We’ll be doing one this November as well as some more in early 2026.
What’s your favourite song and why?
Devon: I love all my children equally, buuuut “Run” is def my fav. It feels like jumping around at a party with my friends when we play it so it’s the most fun I’d say. Honorary mention goes to “Cracked Ribs” because my part has evolved to where it’s one of the more technical songs I play so it’s become my favorite part I’ve written.
Craig: “Cracked Ribs” at the moment because it was our first song written together.Nick: “Jenna” is my favorite because it’s just such a fun song to play, I love the energy it brings and it’s also the song where I get to sing more background vocals than any other on our setlist.
Mario: Let’s start right at the top of our EP ‘Tunnel Vision’ and say my favorite is “Run.” The song just slaps. It covers all my favorite styles in a pop punk song and is catchy as hell.
Why do you make music?
Devon: Because I couldn’t stop if I tried. It’s my therapy. Playing shows demands 110% of my focus so all of my worries, problems, self-doubt, life stresses all get put on silent when I’m on stage. That clarity of purpose and complete dedication is my drug of choice.
Craig: Music is kind of my spirituality. It’s my therapy, my expression and part of my identity.
Nick: I make music as sort of like a type of therapy. Sometimes you can’t find the words to express what you’re feeling but music can either help get the words out or just help get through those feelings with a riff or melody.
Mario: I make music because it’s a form of therapy for me. There’s something about playing a song that I wrote and watching people dance and sing along that lifts my spirits like nothing else.
Talk us through your songwriting process.
Devon: We pretty much start with whatever, a riff, a melody, a lyric, and build from there. We all have a lot to say creatively so what works well for us is getting the song alive and rolling as a proof of concept and then popping the hood and tinkering around with it to a point where we’re all satisfied.
Craig: Each song needs a purpose, whether it be a personal form of expression or a reaction to a social issue. Then add a catchy melody and music to match.
Nick: This is going to be new for me and for all of us really since we’re in the process of writing new material now. The song we’re currently working on started off with a riff by Mario that we all started to build off of. Before we knew it, we had a three and a half minute song recorded. In the past, I would just be messing around with a riff or melody until someone had a lightbulb moment which feels kinda similar to things now.
Mario: In short, it’s a multi-step process, like following a recipe. First we need a catalyst, something to spark the ideas. Then we divide and conquer, work on individual parts and melodies. Lastly, it’s time to jam and this is when the most changes happen.
If you could offer one small bit of advice for your past self, what would you say?
Devon: PRACTICE YOU DORK! I spent most of my childhood learning through fucking around, but the improvements I saw when I finally put some structure and focus into the mix definitely makes me wish I did more of it sooner.
Craig: Start ASAP!
Nick: I took a long break from playing/making music, so to my past self I would say, don’t stop.
Mario: Don’t be afraid to be selfish when it comes to playing music. You’ve spent a lot of time caring for others that didn’t care back in the same way, so don’t waste your time when you sense it. Your gut is usually correct.
Social Media Links
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 Links
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
