After a forgettable six months in which Republic seesawed between desperately retro indie kitsch (solve a Rubik’s Cube at “Throwback” dance night for a free bar tab!) and red-carpeted stabs at faux exclusivity (shiny shirts and hair gel rejoice!), the South Peters Street venue is finally getting back to what it does best: hosting rock bands. If last night’s Black Angels/Warlocks show is any indication, the comeback of good old-fashioned live music just might be a permanent one. The smoky psych/rock display came courtesy of Aquarium Drunkard, a Los Angeles-based music blog with unimpeachable taste that has teamed with bookers Infectious Publicity as Republic’s last, best hopes against the viselike factions of Old Wave and New Rave. Already confirmed AD-curated shows include the Afrobeat modernists NOMO with local ensemble Antenna Inn (Sunday, July 20); Southern-rock revivalists the Whigs (Friday, Aug. 22); a Theresa Andersson CD-release party (Friday, Sept. 5); and the certifiable coup de grâce, a perfect summer sendoff with Austin, Texas, heartrenders Okkervil River (above, performing my favorite song of 2007, “Unless It’s Kicks”) and Crooked Fingers, the croaky folk project by former Archers of Loaf firebrand Eric Bachmann (Tuesday, Sept. 30). It’s almost enough to make you forget “Models and Bottles.”