ALEX ISLEY & THE AMOURS: A HOUSE OF BLUES SUNDAY THAT FELT LIKE A LOVE LETTER TO THE SOUL

Summer Coleman
2 days ago
3 min read

created by Pam G, visualized by Summer Coleman, photo credit Firm Visuals

Chicago walked into House of Blues on Sunday night already knowing the show was sold out — but nobody was prepared for how full the room would feel. Not just packed bodies, but packed hearts. Packed memories. Packed longing. Packed joy. It was one of those nights where the air itself felt warm, like the music had been simmering all day waiting for us to arrive.

And then Alex Isley stepped into the light.

Alex doesn’t perform — she levitates. Her voice is satin and sunlight, the kind of tone that makes you close your eyes without realizing it. She sings like she’s reading your diary back to you, but gently, like she’s trying not to embarrass you in public. Every note was intentional, tender, and impossibly clean. Chicago held its breath more than once.

When she floated into “Good & Plenty,” the whole room melted. Couples leaned in. Singles reconsidered their boundaries. Grown men nodded like they were in therapy. Alex has that effect — she makes vulnerability feel luxurious.

But then… The Amours came through and shifted the energy from soft glow to full‑body warmth.

These sisters don’t just harmonize — they braid sound. Their voices wrap around each other like DNA, like lineage, like Sunday dinner conversations that turn into impromptu concerts. They brought church, they brought go‑go, they brought D.C. soul, and Chicago ate it up. Their set felt like a reminder that joy is a discipline, and they practice it with intention.

Together, Alex Isley and The Amours created a night that felt like a Black love anthology — soft, layered, grown, and deeply rooted. House of Blues hasn’t held that much tenderness and power in the same breath in a long time.

By the end of the night, nobody rushed to leave. Folks lingered, glowing, holding onto the last notes like they were souvenirs. That’s the mark of a real show — when people walk out different than they walked in.

Sunday wasn’t just a concert. It was a balm. A blessing. A reminder that soul music is alive, evolving, and still capable of stopping time.

And Chicago? Chicago received it with open arms.

The Secret Garden Art Series Returns — And We’re Growing Louder, Softer, and Wiser

Chicago, it’s time!

The Secret Garden Art Series is back — powered by South Side Radio Live,

Southside Sanctuary, and our creative kin at The Silverroom. And this year?

We’re not just curating art. We’re curating healing.

We’re talking activations that move you, music that finds you.

Live Music

We’re bringing the soul back to the mic. Expect DJs, vocalists and instrumentalists who know how to move a crowd without losing the message. This is grown, intentional, and unapologetically South Side.

Wellness That’s Actually for Us

Yoga in the garden. Sound baths under the stars. Mental health check-ins that don’t feel like paperwork. We’re building a space where rest is revolutionary and joy is non-negotiable.

Why It Matters

Because our community deserves more than just events.

We deserve spaces that nurture, challenge, and celebrate us.

We deserve partners who understand that art isn’t just decoration — it’s declaration.

This season, Secret Garden is a sanctuary.

Keeping His Light : THANK YOU KYMON KINDRED

Behind the Lens : Kymon Kindred

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of one of our beloved tribe members, Kymon Kindred, a gifted photographer and a bright light within the South Side Radio Live family.

Kymon wasn’t just a creative eye behind the lens he was a spirit who moved with kindness, humility and a smile that could shift the whole energy of a room. His presence touched everyone he worked with and his artistry captured the soul of our community in ways words never could.

Aṣẹ.

South Side Radio Live Honoring our tribe. Keeping his light alive.