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The Details

TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL

December 8, The Venetian Theatre. Shows continue December 14-15, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $183-$302.50; 414-900.

Opening just a week after the Shania Twain extravaganza at Caesars Palace, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul2Soul show at the Venetian offered a different kind of showcase for country superstars in Vegas, with a much less gaudy stage show (although still bolstered by some eye-catching set design) and a more intimate presentation focused on singing over spectacle. McGraw and Hill, who have been married since 1996, have toured jointly in the past, but this show represents a new kind of collaboration for them, with the two trading off songs throughout the evening (rather than each playing their own sets) and sharing the stage about a third of the time.

McGraw and Hill took full advantage of the small-scale setting, starting with the opening number, Hill’s “Let’s Go to Vegas,” which they sang from among the audience, hugging and shaking hands with excited fans. A little more than halfway through the show, McGraw and Hill sat down at the front of the stage for a relaxed chat, which was a little heavy on the corny jokes but also demonstrated their genuine, relaxed dynamic. They talked about their formative influences and sang some favorite cover songs in a segment that felt loose and spontaneous (even if it was probably anything but). The decision to hide the duo’s excellent, high-energy band behind a backdrop during that segment and the songs preceding it was a little baffling, though.

Both singers got to highlight their biggest hits, although the much more prolific McGraw had to be more selective (Hill hasn’t released an album of original material since 2005). The audience response was predictably enthusiastic for songs like Hill’s “Breathe” and “This Kiss” and especially for McGraw’s maudlin “Live Like You Were Dying,” but new singles from each singer also went over well. The quality of the material may have varied, but both singers sounded fantastic throughout the entire show, so much so that it was a little disappointing to get essentially only half a concert from each. Twain may have the flashier production in the larger theater, but McGraw and Hill are clearly putting on the one Vegas country show to see.

Set list:

“Let’s Go to Vegas”

“Something Like That”

“This Kiss”

“Real Good Man”

“Let Me Let Go”

“It’s Your Love”

“The Cowboy in Me”

“One of Those Nights”

“Cry”

“Like We Never Loved at All”

“I Can’t Tell You Why”

“Life in the Fast Lane”

“Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)”

“Breathe”

“American Heart”

“Felt Good on My Lips”

“Piece of My Heart”

“Live Like You Were Dying”

“I Need You”