Country Singer Chris Young Charms Fans at Headliner

Up-and-coming country singer/songwriter Chris Young charmed an audience of about 800 people at Headliner in Neptune on Tuesday for his album release party.

Before the show began, Alysia Marcus, of Belmar, said she was disappointed that Young’s song “Voices” was not on his new album, but she's sold by his sound, no matter what.

“I’m upset it’s not on here. It reminds me of my own family. I like relating to songs and that’s what this song does,” she said referring to “Voices” while holding up Young’s new album "NEON" that she got with her ticket.

“He has a voice that just captures you. Scotty McCreery -- the guy from American Idol -- sounds exactly like him. This concert will do Young good,” Marcus said.

Marcus was not the only one who was captured by Young. Gina Merda of Old Bridge is a big fan of Young’s voice, she said.

“I like his voice, it’s sexy. And that song ‘Tomorrow,’ where it goes, ‘we’re like fire and gasoline,’ really touched my heart. It’s so relatable. It’s fun that there are so many country things to do around here now because of Thunder 106,” Merda said referring to the country radio station.

Thunder 106 presented the release party, a second for them in release parties at Headliner -- a few months ago they did one with Sara Evans, whose career has sky-rocketed since.

"NEON," released Tuesday, is Young’s third album.

“I talked to Chris earlier. He got up at 4 a.m. to be on Good Morning America. He has so much going on today. This is the first time ever he’s doing a show on the same day as his album release,” said Thunder 106 DJ Lexi Carter.

Opening act After the Reign played to a responsive crowd, but when Young came on, the volume went up a notch as fans screamed and cheered as he kicked off his set with “That Makes Me,” from his second album “The Man I Want to Be.”

Between songs, Young talked to the crowd and let them know how excited he was to be at the Jersey Shore.

“It’s been incredibly surreal. I wouldn't be here today if it was not for the fans. Thank you,” Young said.

The finale included tracks “Tomorrow” and “Voices,” and Young threw out some guitar picks before he hurried off to his next event for the night.

“(The show) was awesome,” Kelly Reid of Sayreville said. This is the second time I’ve seen (Young) and he was great and this was great for his career and for country music to have him kick off in New Jersey.”