WTF with Marc Maron – Episode 1683: Mark Flanagan

Release Date: October 2, 2025
Guest: Mark Flanagan (Owner of Largo at the Coronet)
Host: Marc Maron

Overview

In this engaging episode, Marc Maron sits down with Mark Flanagan, the influential Irish proprietor of the legendary venue Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles. Known simply as “Flanagan” to the comedy and music world, he is at the heart of the city’s alternative comedy and singer-songwriter scenes. Together, they delve into Flanagan’s rich history—from his harrowing childhood in Belfast during The Troubles, to creating a haven for innovative performers at Largo. Their wide-ranging conversation is full of nostalgia, personal anecdotes, and reflections on building artistic community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Flanagan’s Early Life: Belfast and The Troubles

[14:11–22:14]

• Growing Up Amid Violence:

  • Flanagan shares vivid memories of the chaos in Belfast during The Troubles, where bombings and political strife were everyday realities.
    • “When I was eight years of age…there was 2,600 bombs detonated in Belfast, and Belfast is smaller than Anaheim.” (16:23, Flanagan)
  • His father was kidnapped and used in a getaway, cementing the family’s decision to leave.

• Escaping Conflict:

  • The family’s relocation to Sligo, a rural part of Ireland, came with its own challenges of assimilation and suspicion.
    • “We look out the back window, and in 25ft lettering, it says, 'brits out.'” (22:14, Flanagan)

2. Music, Medicine, and the Move to America

[23:24–29:36]

• Academic Background:

  • Studied medicine and psychology in Dublin, eventually earning a scholarship to Harvard to study advancements in autism.

• Musical Passion:

  • A lifelong obsession with music and jazz fuels his desire to leave Ireland.
  • Recalls being inspired by jazz DJs who played Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders, and Herbie Hancock on Irish radio.
    • “Listening to Pharaoh Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Freddy Hubbard…I’m like, I gotta be in America.” (27:24, Flanagan)

3. Immersing in American Music & Club Culture

[29:43–32:35]

• Boston Years:
  • Lived near the Brattle in Cambridge, worked at Metro, spent weekends at New York’s Village Vanguard to see jazz legends.
  • Saw acts like Sinead O’Connor, Leonard Cohen, and, in his student days, attended pivotal early concerts (like The Smiths in Dublin).

4. Founding Largo: Trials, Triumphs, and Philosophy

[32:35–56:08]

• Early Challenges & Vision:

  • Details the tumultuous start at Cafe Largo, revamping a supper club into a music/arts haven.
  • After a falling out with the initial owner and a stint booking acts around LA (Troubadour, Alligator Lounge), Flanagan regains control of Largo in 1996, repays debts within seven months, and establishes its DIY credibility.

• Signature Booking & Community:

  • Anchored by John Bryan, Amy Mann, Michael Penn, with frequent surprise visits from icons like Bowie and Ian Hunter.

  • Built relationships with singer-songwriters and comedians, intentionally blending music and comedy for a unique crowd.

    “I made an executive decision 10 years into it… I’m only going to book people that I like. And I don’t mean musically—can I hang with this person?” (56:57, Flanagan)

• Alternative Comedy Mecca:

  • Outlines the emergence of the “alt comedy” scene, the venues/people involved (Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, Paul F. Tompkins, etc.), and how Largo became a central hub.
  • Shares stories of initial resistance from mainstream club comics, and his commitment to nurturing unique talent in a safe, supportive space.

5. Behind the Scenes: Protecting and Fostering Artists

[56:57–59:03]

• Artist Care:
  • Emphasizes the importance of reading performers’ energy backstage and protecting their creative space.
    • “What do you need? Get out of the way...” (57:00, Flanagan)
  • Illustrates with tales of keeping boisterous visitors away and ensuring privacy for artists like Sarah Silverman as they prep.

6. Legendary Performances, Community, and the Largo Mystique

[59:03–66:01]

• Unforgettable Moments:

  • Comedic and musical history unfolds—including wild stories like Marc Maron getting tackled on stage by an upset audience member (66:24–69:36).
  • Tales of theft, celebrity encounters (David Lynch, Paul Thomas Anderson, Tarantino), and how Largo is a place where “you better have a plan—the [big names] are sitting there.” (71:34, Flanagan)

• Legacy and Ownership:

  • Flanagan discusses resisting expansion and TV offers in order to retain Largo’s unique vibe: “I can only put my ass in one saddle.” (66:21, Maron)
  • Contemplates succession and hopes to leave an infrastructure for creative community if he ever steps aside.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Irish Resilience and Art:

  • “The artist community, they all went to Paris. Like, we all leave.” (21:09, Flanagan)

• Why Medicine Wasn’t the Answer:

  • “If you live long enough, everyone’s gonna be taking medicine. And medicine is good…but as a human being, you wanna believe, like, I can kick it, I can do it.” (06:30, Maron)

• On Largo’s Booking Philosophy:

  • “I want to mix comedy, music, but new stuff…so there’s a patience, but there’s also an applaud because they’re like, you’re fucking trying.” (55:04, Flanagan)

• The Power of Jokes:

  • Paraphrasing Liz Phair via Patton Oswalt: “The finest kind of joke is ‘obnoxious, funny, true and mean.’” (08:36)

• Recalling a Legendary Tackle:

  • “He lunged out of the audience and tackled me…all I remember thinking is, like, I’m not really a fighter, but I can’t run.” (67:32, Maron)

• On Stage and Community Care:

  • “I’m very protective…if I don’t do that, then I’m gone. That’s why I never opened a place in New York—because I wouldn’t be there.” (66:01, Flanagan)

Important Timestamps

• Flanagan’s Childhood & Troubles: [14:11–22:14]
• Move to Ireland, then U.S.: [22:14–29:36]
• Jazz & Music Stories: [27:24–29:36]
• Cafe Largo/Largo Origins: [32:35–36:34]
• Revival and Rise of Largo: [36:34–56:08]
• Comedians and Alt-Scene at Largo: [45:03–50:23]
• Notable Shows & Incidents:
  • Maron tackled by audience member: [66:24–69:36]
  • Artist care backstage: [56:57–59:03]
• Ownership, Succession, Community: [62:51–66:01]

Tone & Style Highlights

The conversation moves naturally from humorously bleak anecdotes to philosophical musings, retaining its signature blend of casual openness, honesty, and supportive camaraderie. There is a palpable sense of nostalgia, reverence for artistic risk, and playful jabs—a real “insider’s” peek into an influential artistic ecosystem.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is an essential listen for fans of comedy, alternative performance scenes, and the LA creative community. Through his conversation with Marc, Mark Flanagan emerges as both an architect and protector of a vital artistic space, weaving tales of survival, community, and invention. Listeners are taken from post-war Belfast to the smoky clubs of Boston and finally to the luminous stage at Largo—a haven where risk, experimentation, and camaraderie continue to thrive.

For more: Visit largo-la.com for current show listings and event information.