Cannibal Is Gone, but Three Original Headhunters Reunite

In 1965, the East L.A. act Cannibal and the Headhunters scored a Top 40 hit with “Land of 1,000 Dances,” bringing to the country’s attention a phenomenon known as the Eastside sound--a blend of Motown-style vocals, R&B; and British Invasion rock. Although the song with the catchy “na-na-na-na-na” nonsense hook had its biggest chart success with Wilson Pickett only a year later, it’s still a rock ‘n’ roll staple today, having been recorded by artists as diverse as Tom Jones, Patti Smith and the J. Geils Band.

Despite the group’s flashy stage show and eye-catching fake shrunken-head necklaces, Cannibal and the Headhunters proved much less durable than their hit. Membership changed, and the band knocked around oldies shows, finally calling it quits several years before leader Frankie “Cannibal” Garcia died in 1996.

The three surviving original Headhunters have reunited after more than 30 years apart, performing in concert and seeking another record deal. On Friday at Jacks Sugar Shack, the synchronized moves were more subdued, and no shrunken heads were in sight, but the Eastside spirit still moved Richard “Scar” Lopez and his partners, brothers Joe “Yo Yo” Jaramillo and Robert “Rabbit” Jaramillo, as they reprised their hit and more.

The trio’s buoyant harmonizing was sometimes rough around the edges, but for a little while the singers tasted their youthful success again, recapturing the vulnerability and pride of the music they loved and making the most of every note.