POP REVIEW : Chieftains’ Pluck of the Irish

Roger Daltrey was laboring under no misconceptions as he stood before the traditional Irish group the Chieftains at the Universal Amphitheatre on Tuesday.

“I now know what it feels like to be a pork chop in a synagogue,” the former Who singer told the audience.

Well, call the show ham kreplach , because the improbable pairing worked. Daltrey just did what he does (grandiose rock vocals, stallion poses, the famed microphone twirls) while the Chieftains just did what they do (a vibrant but genteel chamber-folk approach), and a good time was had by all, on two Irish folk songs and a credible version of the Who’s dramatic “Behind Blue Eyes.”

Guest turns by Texas-Nashville singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith (who also opened the show with her own set) were a more natural fit, like barbecued ribs and Irish potatoes, with the Chieftains’ colorful accents slotting nicely into Griffith’s country-folk. On their own, the Chieftains further explored the relationship with a medley of tunes (including “Heartbreak Hotel”!) from an upcoming album and TV show done with Nashville stars demonstrating the evolutionary connection between Irish and American music.

The Nashville venture and this tour with Daltrey and Griffith add to a seemingly countless list of collaborations the Chieftains have done, and the peril is that it can appear a bit gimmicky. Who next? Ozzy Osbourne? Still, gimmicks or not, Tuesday’s joint ventures gave more proof of the versatility of the Chieftains’ accomplished music.