Our Story

What's crazy about this band is that most of us started playing music together in church - and we still do!  But it took a global pandemic to bring us together as a band.  Live music was out of the question for most of 2020, so we did the next best thing.  We recorded and live streamed on the web! In 2021, when venues wanted live music again, we ventured out.  And it has been an amazing run!  Wineries, breweries, family restaurants, night clubs, private parties - we've been playing quite a bit.  There've been some personnel changes, but the band is set as: 

Libby Barry - Lead vocals

Jim Mitchell - Acoustic guitar, harmonica and lead vocals

Dan Esser - Percussion and vocals

Freddie Louden - Bass and vocals. 

Jerry Pickholtz - Lead guitar and vocals

The mother of two amazing pre-teen boys (aka the wild ones!), Libby brings not only an awesome voice, but also an unmatched style and grace to the "frontwoman" role.  Her musical career started as a teenager singing contemporary Christian music in the church youth band and eventually in the "big church" band.  Her other musical influences include modern and classic country, current pop, classic rock and thanks to her brother's insistence on cranking Metallica from his bedroom, even some heavy metal!!  She lives in Finksburg with the wild ones and her awesome husband Shane.  Oh, and she loves shotgunning beer!! Bet you won't see that at a show - or will you? 

Jim has been a musician most of his life.  Starting at a very young age playing a plethora of wind instruments in the school band and eventually studying classic opera at Univ of MD, it wasn't until he was in his 40s when he picked up a guitar. Inspired by the group of amazing musicians he sang with at church, Jim started playing AC and singing with the church band which led to meeting Libby and Dan and eventually to the formation of LSP!  Jim and Freddie go all the way back to those high school days where they played and sang together in orchestra and the Show Choir!  A bit older than Jim, it is reported Freddie bought him his first beer!   Jim's musical influences include classic and modern country, Jimmy Buffett, classic rock, outlaw country, and even some reggae! Born and raised in the greater Baltimore area, Jim lives in Carroll County with his amazing wife Kimberly and their two cats, Anna and Hope. 

A proud father and grandfather, Dan hails originally from Wisconsin and somehow made his way to Maryland where he's lived with his wife Christine most of the latter part of their lives.  Dan's percussion career started as a kid and grew into a passion and major talent playing contemporary Christian music in church - where, of course, he met Jim and Libby.  Along with continued interest and participation in Christian music, Dan especially enjoys the Classic Rock tunes of his youth, going way back to the 60s. And thanks mostly to Jim and Libby, he's been expanding his musical interests to now include classic and newer Country music and more. He loves anything with a good beat!  What's great about Dan's ability is that even though he isn't playing a full drum kit, you don't really miss it!  He's that good!  Dan's daughter and Libby were in the same youth group together growing up, so Dan is, in fact, the patriarch of the group.  Oh and ask to see his impression of a Kimodo Dragon!  

With a resume longer than both his arms, Freddie brings an amazing amount of experience and talent to the band. Having played with big named bands like Kelly Bell, John Christ, The Loft, One x One, Jeff Order and many others, Freddie can play any genre we throw at him. Jamming with 3-4 basses at a show is his signature move and allows him to be flexible with any of those genres. To say there are a finite amount of musical influences for Freddie would be doing his career a disservice. That said, his early influences include Ray Charles, Motown esp The Jackson 5, James Jameson, P-Funk, Stevie Wonder and many of the pioneering funk bands and bassists of the 70s and early 80s... Freddie grew up in Catonsville, MD where he currently lives. He has four children. Ask him to recite his favorite parts of the movie Strange Brew! Oh wait, he probably can't seeing as we never were able to finish the entire movie!!

Jerry has been playing music for most his life.  Taking up piano at the age of 4, Jerry played sax and guitar in junior and senior high school playing in concert and marching bands. Upon graduating high school he played sax in bands around the Miami area.  Living in Maryland over the past 40 plus years, Jerry has played in various music groups including show bands, rock, pop, and dance bands as well as acoustic solos and duos.  Such bands include Type A, Riptide, Wayne brown and 2nd Conspiracy, and more recently, Cross-tie Walker and Never Too Late - many times opening for national artists such as KC and the Sunshine Band, The Young Rascals, The Vogues, Dan Aykroyd, Peter Tork, Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) and others.  He has also been backup musician to other acts such as The Marvelettes, Dennis Yost and the Classic 4 as well as Radio personality "The Greaseman."  Jerry also runs sound and lighting production company. His influences include Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, Tiny Tim, Elvis Costello and Lady Gaga (not).