Interview With Punk Rock Band Take It Or Leave It

How would you describe your music to any person who may have never heard it before?

We’re a punk rock band that leans hard into catchy choruses. At the core, we want our songs to feel familiar, like something you’ve been missing without knowing it. We pull influences from all over, but no matter what, we end up punking it out and making it our own.

What's the significance of your band's band?

We’re Take It Or Leave It, and the name came out of frustration with trying to pick one. Every time someone suggested something, the answer was always, “Eh, I could take it or leave it.” After saying it a thousand times, we started laughing and realized it was perfect. It matches our attitude. We’re going to keep making music either way, so hop on board or get out of the way.

What are your musical influences?

Our influences range from The Offspring, Blink-182, Rancid, NOFX, and Alkaline Trio. Honestly, if it falls under the punk umbrella, it probably shaped one of us at some point. We also keep an ear on what’s popular now, because it helps us understand what connects with listeners today.

What are your musical inspirations?

Inspiration comes from everywhere. Family, friends, the news, random moments, all of it feeds into the songs. Sometimes it’s a personal feeling, sometimes it’s something bigger. The band also doubles as a therapy session for us, so a lot of inspiration comes just from talking through life together.

If given the chance, what musician(s) would you like to collaborate with? Rather, this is to either write a song or be featured on a track.

If we could pick from anyone in history, Jimi Hendrix or Freddie Mercury would be the dream. But if we’re talking today, Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day would be top of the list. The guy knows how to write timeless bangers, and the chance to put something together with Green Day would be unreal.

What's the new EP about?

Our debut EP, Tunnel Vision, is about capturing energy. It’s everything from celebrating with friends to dealing with toxic relationships. A lot of it reflects the frustration of stepping back into the world post-COVID and still feeling stuck in it.

What's something you hope people take away from the new songs on the album?

We hope it sparks nostalgia while still sounding modern. We love pulling from all kinds of genres and decades, and you can hear that in the record. Yes, it’s punk, but we borrowed from a wide range of influences that shaped who we are.

Which songs on the album were the most fun to write, and which were the most challenging to write?

"Cracked Ribs" was definitely the hardest. It’s full of offbeat patterns mixed with straight ones, so it keeps you on edge, and nailing that balance took work. On the flip side, "Pints and Power Chords" came together almost instantly. As soon as we wrote the chorus, we knew it was an anthem, and everything else just fell into place.

What did you allow yourself to do creatively for this song that you haven’t in the past?

We self-recorded everything in Craig’s basement with Mario’s gear before sending it off to Anthony Bilancia to mix and master. Doing it ourselves gave us the freedom to experiment without worrying about studio time. We layered in more harmonies, tried rhythmic changes, and just let ourselves throw ideas at the wall. Some got cut, but others stuck and made the songs stronger.

Do you have any favourite song(s) off the new album?

"Run" will probably always be the front-runner. It opens the EP and has everything we love in a punk track: big choruses, breakdowns, riffs that make you bounce. It’s also one of our favourites to play live, because it always gets the room moving.

When you find yourself in a creative rut, what do you usually turn to? Any habits, environments or even non-musical sources that help you reconnect with your creativity?

Craig likes to write at the park while his son plays, just him, a notepad, and a shady bench, until something clicks. For the rest of us, it’s often about taking the pressure off. Learn some covers, jam for fun, and remind ourselves why we started doing this. That usually sparks the next idea.

Do you have any favourite songs to perform live? It could be your own music or even a cover. Any reason why?

We love punking out oldies. "Video Killed The Radio Star" is one of our favourites, Craig even uses a megaphone to give it that radio feel. We’ve also covered "Just What I Needed," "Johnny B. Goode," "Last Train To Clarksville," and "I’ve Just Seen a Face." Of course, our originals are at the heart of our set, but throwing in a '60s, '70s, and '80s classic always lights up the room.

If you could perform a show this very second anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Anywhere you say? London. We’ve got family overseas who’ve never seen us live, and getting to share that with them would be amazing. Plus, an international show is definitely on our bucket list. London just feels like a perfect spot to introduce ourselves to Europe as well.

Is there any particular venue(s) or city/cities that come to mind?

Starland Ballroom in New Jersey. We all have so many memories there as fans, and playing it ourselves would be a full circle. New Jersey punk shows are just different; the energy is unmatched. Mario’s been the closest to playing there, as he got invited up during a Goldfinger show to stage dive into the crowd.

What do you currently have planned for the remainder of the year?

We’ve got a couple of fun shows lined up in New York and New Jersey. For anyone who can’t make it in person, we’ll also be doing some live streams on YouTube, so you can still catch us. Make sure to follow along so you don’t miss them.

If your music was a type of food, what would it be and why?

Ravioli. We call our music “Pasta Rock” since TIOLI sounds like ravioli. It’s comfort food for your ears, Familiar, filling, and best served right from the source.

What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you while performing?

One time, Mario swapped instruments with Craig, but since they were both in charge of each other’s pedals, he accidentally muted Craig’s bass for an entire song. Craig swears it happens all the time. Mario swears it was only once…and he’s got the receipts.

What's the most random thing that has ever inspired you to write a song?

Our original drummer once bailed on practice after getting bear-hugged too hard and needing X-rays. That story became the seed for "Cracked Ribs."

What's the most useless talent you have, and would you incorporate it into your music if you could?

We’re bad at letting talents go unused. Craig’s harmonica made it into sets. Mario and Nick’s streaming experience became our live YouTube shows. Devon’s love for working on cars? He rigged up the hitch for our Buffalo trip. If something can be folded into the band, it will be.

Thanks for the time today. Is there anything else you may want to add that I didn't cover before you go?

This was a blast. Thanks so much for having us. Opportunities like this mean a lot because it helps us share what we’re doing with new people. We appreciate you giving us the space to make more friends!