Our Mission
The Colorado Art Rock Society's mission is to foster a vibrant community that revolves around the exploration, dialogue, and appreciation of both emerging and timeless progressive rock music.
We are dedicated to creating a space where enthusiasts can engage in meaningful discussions, discover new artists, respectfully disagree, and offer support, cultivating a shared passion for the diverse and evolving world of progressive rock.
WHO WE ARE
Welcome to the Colorado Art Rock Society (C.A.R.S.), where the last Saturday evening of the month transforms into a haven for music aficionados and progressive rock enthusiasts alike.
Our journey began humbly on March 27th, 1999, with just four passionate individuals coming together to share their love for this genre. Fast forward to today, and our community continues to flourish, reflecting our shared passion for the unconventional, the experimental, and the groundbreaking.
In addition to our monthly gatherings, we've twice hosted the Flower Kings and we continue to organize our annual Progfest, first held on April 26th, 2003, where members get a chance to play “all of the Prog Songs they ever wanted to play in a band but were afraid to ask.”
At the heart of C.A.R.S. lies our mission: to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where the exploration, dialogue, and appreciation of progressive rock thrive. We're more than just a society; we're a community bound by a common love for music that transcends boundaries and defies expectations.
So whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer wanting to immerse yourself in the world of progressive rock, our doors are always open. Join us on our journey of discovery, where every meeting is an invitation to explore, engage, and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion.
Mark your calendars, bring your favorite albums, and together let's embrace the diversity, innovation, and endless possibilities of progressive rock.
Prog on!
How It All Began
The Myth
The Colorado Art Rock Society was founded on March 12, 1999 by Phil Satterley and Alan Mallery. While waiting in line to see a Yes concert, Alan noticed Phil leafing through a copy of Paramhansa Yoganada's Autobiography of a Yogi. Phil was caught up in a footnote on page 92 that described a secret society of music lovers who only listen to music in odd meters.
After the show, Alan followed Phil back to his house where the two of them began holding sessions by candlelight. The concept came together during one 6-hour session which carried on until 7:00am. They had listened to Van Der Graaf Generator's entire back catalog. It was a magical experience that left both of them exhilarated for days. They both agreed that there was only one course of action and that was to form a music society for like minded and intelligent odd-metered music connoisseurs, The Colorado Art Rock Society.
The Real Story
A Note From Phil...
The Colorado Art Rock Society (C.A.R.S.) was formed in 1999 when Phil Satterley had a chance meeting with Alan and Carrie Mallery at the Bajaprog '99 Festival in Mexicali, Mexico (surprisingly the first people Phil even talked to after arriving in Mexico were also from Colorado!) The first meeting was on March 27, 1999 when C.A.R.S. met at the Margarita Bay Club in Denver Colorado. With just 4 members at that meeting C.A.R.S. was born. Suddenly the numbers grew and after reaching over 15, C.A.R.S. moved out of the smaller back meeting room and was forced to take over the entire upstairs until December 29, 2001 when the restaurant closed and the group moved to it's second location at the Morrison Inn in Golden Colorado (actually just down the street from the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater).
The group met there as the numbers grew and so did the noise level! The tiled floors and high ceilings made it quite difficult to hear the music, let alone hear each other! Finally it was decided to move. Our next location was the Yummy Yummy Thai restaurant on October 25, 2003 and the C.A.R.S. holiday party on December 13th. It was decided once again to move because of space issues and belly dancers?!?!?! and it was off to the Breckenridge Brew Pub where we met until approximately 2016. The space was the right size, with a closed off meeting area as well as being perfect for listening to music or setting up a wide screen projector for watching prog videos. -Phil Satterley