Moth Story Slam – Burned by Desire

There’s a small sense of shame that hits me every time I have to leave the office at an hour that is considered early by my company’s standards (even though when my cabbie asked why I was there so late, my response of “playing with spreadsheets” didn’t seem sufficient). But on Tuesday, I dared to escape at 7, just in time to grab a cab to Martyr’s, a bar and music venue on the northside of Chicago.

For this night, the main stage was completely bare save for a microphone, some chairs, and a score board. Moth Story Slam had taken over for its monthly residency. For those who are unfamiliar, Moth started in New York and has moved into four cities, spreading the joy of storytelling and laughing at others’ misery across the country. And Detroit.

Participants sign up at the door, signing a waiver and dropping it in a hat for luck to take over. If your waiver is picked, up you go with five minutes to tell a story based on the subject of the month. Stories are judged by a few members of the audience and good times are had by all. This evening’s topic – “Love Hurts.”

Love is a broad enough topic, but incorporating pain opens up the speakers and audience to a whole host of possibilities. Love takes many forms and the breadth and depth of its loss can be felt for years after. One gentleman described his quest to quit smoking. Another walked us through the funeral of his first goldfish. Given the entirely random nature of the stories and tellers, an impressive array of talent took the stage that evening. Given the “Sold Out” sign on the door and the shoulder to shoulder crowd, the show has a stellar reputation. It seems Moth has yet to disappoint.

*By Jesy, who just found out her boss reads PV, so will need to keep the job talk to a minimum…

Similar Posts:

• Two Gallants Ring in MLK Day in Chicago
• Mucca Pazza – the High School Reunion You’ll Want To Go To
• Hurricane Bells – Reluctant Twilight Supporters
• Murder by Death Kills It In Chicago
• Roman Candle – Worth Missing 4th Quarter For