Getting to Know… Take It Or Leave It | Interview

In the 460^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from New York/ New Jersey punk rock band, Take It Or Leave It.

“It’s never a dull moment when Take It Or Leave It hits the stage.” Awesome, Take It Or Leave It! In response to our first burning question, the band expounds, “We are performers through and through, so our focus is on making sure the audience is entertained. Whether that’s with electrifying solos or by jumping around like a lunatic, we make sure the visuals match the audio with a top-tier performance.” We get the inside scoop on the New York / New Jersey punk-rock band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know…Take It Or Leave It: Interview No. 460!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Take It Or Leave It distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

For those who are not familiar, come hang out at a show! But, for those that can’t, one of our unique qualities is that we go live periodically on YouTube and other socials, taking requests and just hanging out with our fans. So, if you can’t make it in person, we’d love to have you with us online. As for in-person shows, we are performers through and through, so our focus is on making sure the audience is entertained. Whether that’s with electrifying solos or by jumping around like a lunatic, we make sure the visuals match the audio with a top-tier performance. We built our own custom light boxes and will even bring props like harmonicas and megaphones. It’s never a dull moment when Take It Or Leave It hits the stage.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Take It Or Leave It form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

The band formed after Mario, our rhythm guitarist, and Craig, our bassist and vocalist, were introduced by a mutual friend (and drummer) in mid-2021. At the time, Mario and Zach, our lead guitarist, were looking to get out and play shows, so Mario invited Zach to join the team. The band formed under a temporary name, Iowa Test, while they worked to bring in a drummer after their mutual friend had to move west for work. Mario quickly called up an old friend, Devon, whom he had played with about a decade earlier, and convinced him to sign on. So, the short-term goal through 2023 was writing music and getting comfortable with each other, learning all the little nuances we have in our styles, and such. With the lineup set and the vibe developed, Take It Or Leave It was ready to hit the scene. We self-recorded and released our debut EP, Tunnel Vision, in 2024, and we’ve been full steam ahead ever since, with a focus on more shows, more music, and more nonsense.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since first starting? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

At first, we were just wading through the waters, getting used to it all. Now, our aspirations are through the roof. So yes, they have changed, but the direction has always stayed the same; we just widened our net. We have been storyboarding a music video for our single, “Therapy,” which will drop later this year. As for additional music, we are aiming to release another EP this winter. Lastly, we also put our focus on merch, because who doesn’t love repping a band they love while they are out and about? So, we have a large online inventory as well as in-person gear to purchase. Our main goal now is to play more and more shows, with a focus on bringing our energy to new fans across the greater NYC area and hopefully, use that momentum to tour in 2026.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences, and how are they influential?

There have been so many bands and artists that have influenced us over the years. Some of our favorites to tap into for muse tend to be The Offspring, Rancid, Blink-182, Green Day, The Descendents, and Bouncing Souls, to name a few in our genre. But, when looking outside of the punk scene, we love listening to a very wide range of performers. Artists like Lady Gaga, The Beatles, or even Polyphia are examples of music we love to pull influences from because they changed the game in their own respective ways. We all agree that you learn so much more by listening outside of the genre you are trying to write towards, because music is universal.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

The Delancey. November 2024. What a show that was. The band hadn’t played in New York City yet, so we were beyond stoked for the opportunity. Upon arrival, we were told that the club instituted a “no hat policy” that started THAT DAY. We were furious because that was part of our look. All four of us wear hats, practically 24×7. We went back and forth with the team, but they stood their ground. Fine, whatever. So, we get on stage without our hats and the PA speaker falls off the platform twice, knocking out the power to our pedal boards, but we didn’t let that stop us. We still had an amazing show, but we always laugh to ourselves for the crazy ‘no hats” show. The worst part was the following lead singer was wearing a massive top hat. So, we followed up with the booking team and aired our grievances. A few weeks later, we heard back that management has removed the policy for performers. So, we feel honored to have played a role in letting future artists look the way they want, no matter who they are. All that stuff aside, we can’t wait to play at The Delancey again, because they were amazing hosts, and the vibe was top tier. What’s a little punk rock without a little chaos?

To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Our second track, “Pints and Power Chords,” off our EP Tunnel Vision, is so much fun to play. It has a little bit of everything: a guitar solo, a ska verse, gang vocals. It’s just an absolute blast. The reason it’s our favorite is that it’s what we do every week at practice. Play some music with friends over a CouplaBeers™ (IYKYK). The reason it’s so special is that it came together so naturally, and it has developed with us over time. Feels like a song that has really been a part of the growth of the band. Everybody has played a part in shaping it to be what it is today.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about Take It Or Leave It? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

We proudly go by the nickname ‘Pasta Rockers,’ and it all started as a joke. Someone pointed out that our acronym “TIOLI” kinda sounds like “ravioli,” and once we heard that, it was over. We fully leaned into it. And honestly, who doesn’t love pasta and punk? Beyond that, we try to never take ourselves too seriously. We’re all about the balance, bringing an intense, emotional, high-energy performance, but making sure there’s room for jokes, goofiness, and laughs. We’re just a bunch of loud, chaotic nerds who love writing songs, playing shows, and connecting with people. Pasta rock forever!

What is Take It Or Leave It currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

We have a bunch of shows lined up through the summer, so we are hoping to see you there! We’re also releasing a music video to our single, “Run”, this May, so stay tuned for that. Later this summer we’ll be recording our next EP to release this winter, so that’s our behind-the-scenes focus right now. We really enjoy working on new music while we are playing shows, because we can pull direct influences from the concerts to the rhythms we write. Really apply the lessons learned from each audience. So, if you’re there rocking out, just know that you’ll be shaping our sound for years to come!

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

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Getting to Know…Take It Or Leave It: Interview No. 460 [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Take It Or Leave It]