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# Pinch of Latin flavor adds spice to Twilightshow
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/pinch-of-latin-flavor-adds-spice-to-twilightshow/
- Published: 2005-07-07T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:22:53.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Pier, #archive-import

*Cannibal aims to take a bite out of Santa Monica*

*By WINTER JOHNSON Special to the Daily Press*

Continuing its summer-long live music, the Twilight Dance Series presents a concert with some Latin flavor tonight.

Coming to the Santa Monica Pier this week is Cannibal and the Headhunters, a Chicano rock band who has been playing since the 1960s. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, a far cry from their initial venue of the chicken coup at one of the bandmember’s homes, where they initially practiced as teenagers. Best known for their song, “Land of a Thousand Dances,” East Los Angeles-based Cannibal and the Headhunters has played with groups such as the Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Hermin’s Hermits.

Following them will be Little Joe Y La Familia, a Tex-Mex band in the music industry for decades. Little Joe, AKA Jose Maria DeLeon Hernandez, helped spread “Tejano” music, a mix of “norteno” music and country, blues, and rock styles, band members say.

Beginning his musical career in a family band called “David Coronado & the Latinaires,” Hernandez’s musical inspiration came from a variety of different sources. After some time in San Francisco in 1970, Hernandez decided to learn more about his culture and heritage, changing the name of the band from “The Latinaires” to “La Familia.” A family tragedy was the catalyst behind Hernandez’s drive to take his music to the top, band members say. Since then, he has put out more than 50 albums, and is focused on touring the world, believing that people can be brought together through music.

Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday on the Santa Monica Pier’s west parking deck. For more information, visit www.twilightdance.org, or www.santa-monicapier.org. You also can call the pier information line at (310) 458-8900\. For bus information, visit bigbluebus.com or call (310) 451-5444, or visit www.mta.net.

Pier officials strongly recommend walking, biking and using mass transit to get to the concerts, as parking is limited. Parking is available in beach parking lots located at 2330 Barnard Way, located south of the pier and 1550 PCH, just north of the pier.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 7, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/070705.pdf?ref=smdp.com)