Chicago’s poetry scene experienced a combination of literary styles Monday night, when six contestants and a crowd of approximately 40 young and middle-aged adults gathered to hear stories, poetry, music and comedy while enjoying beers and good food.

“We represent the first original poetry slam ever…we decided, let’s launch a new kind of slam that actually combines all those different art forms into one competitive art…it’s the only one of its kind, that I know of,” host J.W. Basilo, executive director at Chicago Slam Works, said.

LitMash, which takes place the first Monday of every month at Haymarket Pub & Brewery in the West Loop, gives those involved in Chicago’s poetry, comedy, story-telling and musical scenes an opportunity to express themselves and share their talents with an excited audience.

Haymarket, on the corner at 737 W. Randolph, houses the Drinking and Writing Theater, which sits in the back of the building, past the brew house, kitchen, bar and other dining rooms. White lights are strung up on the ceiling, and dartboards, small TV screens and plenty of high bar stools and tables are there for visitors.

The crowd cheered and clapped enthusiastically as Basilo began the show. In the first round of LitMash, each performer had six minutes to sway the audience to later vote for them. Five judges, chosen randomly and sitting in the audience enjoying their drinks, decided on a score after each performance and held it up on a miniature white board. Basilo then added up the totals for each performer, and later, the two with the highest scores performed once more in a battle to win $100.

Monday’s performers were Tumelo Khoza, Demetrius Amparan, Erin Diamond, Monte LaMonte, Jamila Woods and Renee Albrecht-Mallinger. Each had their own unique style for the show, and each received a big welcome from the audience.

Khoza, the first performer of the night, incorporated the singing of lullabies with storytelling to tell her personal views and struggles with the controversy of abortion. Next up, Amparan told stories and rapped about growing up in Englewood and raising his daughter in a similarly dangerous environment.

Diamond used story-telling in a more comedic way; she told the story of a sudden breakup with her boyfriend of five years, and how she then “lost her mind,” turning to wine, marijuana and “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee,” a book about the government’s betrayal of Native American tribes.

The show’s third performer, LaMonte, told the audience about his experience attending a Megadeath concert at the Aragon Ballroom in 1988 as a senior in high school. The crowd laughed as he relayed the dirty details of having severe itching “down there,” applying Icy Hot to his private parts, and then later splashing toilet bowl water on himself to relieve the discomfort.

Woods, inspired by R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps: Choose Your Adventure” stories, created one based off of her experience as a freshman at a Catholic preparatory high school. The audience chuckled at her tales of learning “how to be cool,” which included talking to the popular girls at school and convincing her mom to let her go to a party.

Albrecht-Mallinger ended the show, using a combination of comedy and sadness to appeal to the audience. The story ended in her admitting herself to a mental hospital with the never-ending support of her father, who had always encouraged her to be honest with herself.

The audience then voted for their favorite performer, by placing the poker chip handed to them at the entrance into one of the six small, black boxes on the stage. Khoza received the most number of votes, and won $50.

The final round of LitMash ended with Khoza and Woods competing for the $100 prize. Khoza presented another serious and thought-provoking piece, directed at South African president Jacob Zuma, calling him out for his corruption. “How are you helping us?” Khoza asked. Woods, a member of band Milo&Otis, sang a song dedicated to her sister’s birthday. The crowd applauded and cheered greatly at both performers; however, Khoza won the final round.

Despite the prize, Basilo says LitMash is unique to Chicago in that participants don’t care about winning. “We’re built in the tradition of starting here…people in Chicago generally don’t care about the competition,” he said.

Diamond enjoys participating in LitMash because it is so unique and combines so many art forms. “When you do something like this, you get to hear people who are poets, people who are, you know, any other form of artist. It just kind of opens your mind,” she said. “It’s just cool to see a little bit of everything that’s going on.”

“We’re a writer’s city,” she added.

The next LitMash is April 7. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8. Tickets are $8 at the door.