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Well, it wasn't the best showing by Dan Orlovsky and if I was running the team - John David Booty would have worked his way into the back-up roll behind Matt Schaub. Orlovsky just seemed completely unaware of the Free Safety on a number of his passes, while Booty worked with the less talented fourth and fifth stringers to put the Texans in position to possibly win the game.

Another Texans running back left a game with a toe injury in the first Quarter. Last week it was Steve Slaton and this week it was Jeremiah Johnson. Johnson's exaunt gave Chris Henry a chance to show off his skills. He was able to hit a few holes and gain 51 yards on 16 carries. Even with Johnson having to leave the game early, the race for that 3rd back position is still tight between those two. It will be interesting to see who Kubiak and company decide to go with.

The roster will be cut down to 53 by tomorrow and all will be clear. Now time to fast forward 10 days to the Colts!

Visit Space City Rock for an article on the new Houston-based indie label, ZenHill Records.

You can purchase/download one of the label’s first releases, an EP with three new tracks from Southern Backtones, via iTunes.

Week four of the Pre-Season is always almost a punishment for football fans. Rarely do any of the starters play, so we are stuck watching 3rd, 4th and 9th stringers fight for a spot on the team or showcase their skills to other teams who may need depth at their position.

It's usually guys that you've never heard of or ever seen play. They went to schools like North Eastern West Academy for Modern Cultivation or Sisters of the Nun’s Preacher University. They’ll miss tackles, drop passes, run the wrong routes and make the wrong reads, but damn it…they’ll play their hearts out and leave it all out on the field.

The Texans take on the Buccaneers in week 4 of the 2010 Pre-Season. You may be lax-luster about this game at best, but there are actually 3 big things to watch in the game that could keep it entertaining.

1. Jeremiah Johnson and Chris - Arian Foster and Steve Slaton have solidified their spots on the team, so they won’t see much (if any) action in Thursday’s game. Kubiak and the Texans are looking to figure out whether one of these two will their 3rd back between or if they will need to look to Free Agency to find additional depth at running back. Johnson has looked pretty good so far in Pre-season and I expect him to win the position, but that doesn’t mean Henry won’t put up a fight. Expect big plays from both of these athletes.

2. Dan Orlovsky – The coaching staff, the players and the fans need to see a lot of Dan-O in this game. For one, he needs more experience under center and playing as much as he can in this game will get it for him. He also needs to prove to the team that he is able to take command of this high-powered offense and drive down the field and score if, god forbid, Matt Schaub goes down. We all need to see his ability to read a defense, adjust and not make a boneheaded move like stepping out of the back of the end zone. Kubiak says that Orlovsky has grown, so let’s see it.

3. Kickers- All Pre-season both Kris Brown and Neil Rackers have been competing for one kicker spot. Coming down to the wire they are neck and neck, both perfect on Field Goals in the last three games. They’ve also both had decent kick-offs and have been seeing trying to make tackles on returners. Surprisingly, last week Rackers almost laid the wood to someone. Look for this competition to heat up and for something to happen that will make the Texans brass’s decision a little easier.
Although you won’t see much of Schaub and company, the Texans-Buccs match up should be a fun one to watch if you are focusing on those 3 items.

Last nugget: You can also expect Troy Nolan and Darryl Sharpton to see a good amount of playing time and make some good hits.

This Friday, locals Tax The Wolf celebrate the release of their new album with a show at Mango’s with Dead Confederate and The Futurebirds. Dead Confederate’s new album, Sugar, is a good listen and will likely make for a great live set. Showtime is 9pm.

Earlier on Friday, The Futurebirds plays a free show at Cactus music at 4:30pm. Dead Confederate also plays at Cactus at 5:30pm.

Tax The Wolf also plays this Saturday night (8.28.10) at Rudyard’s with Spain Colored Orange and You(Genious).

More information on Tax The Wolf may be found at MySpace.

Hollywood Black celebrates the release of its new new five-song EP, Devils That We Are, with a show at Walter’s on Washington this Saturday (8.27.10). Female Demand and The Ride Home are also on the bill, and cover is $10 (which includes a copy of the EP). Free beer for 21+ (until it’s gone).

Doors are at 8pm.

You can download an MP3 of Hollywood Black’s new song, “Wine Skin,” here.

Tonight (Tuesday, 8.24.10), Houston’s own The Gold Sounds play a show with Miniature Tigers at Mango’s Cafe.

Doors open at 8pm, showtime is 9pm. Tickets are $8 at the door or at Superunison.com.

Here’s more info on Miniature Tigers:

Miniature Tigers’ sound was forged in the bedroom of frontman Charlie Brand, only to quickly outgrow the space, with the band soon finding itself on stage, in the studio and signed to Phoenix’s Modern Art Records in short order. Brand’s lyrics – a mix of deeply personal insights and playful references to the disparate cultural artifacts that have informed his existence – and effortlessly constructed indie-pop arrangements have made fans in his native Phoenix and beyond. They stretch to Los Angeles, where he reconnected with drummer, collaborator and fellow charter member of the band Rick Schaier while living in Hollywood, and far beyond thanks to the Internet, which it seems people are into these days.

Visit The Gold Sounds online at www.myspace.com/thegoldsounds.

This Thursday (8.26.10) is a benefit concert for Mareshah Shepard, a 23-year-old woman who was hit by a drunk driver on the corner of Washington Ave. & Thompson. The purpose of the benefit is to help her family with medical bills and  to raise awareness to the fact that there are no crosswalks on Washington Ave.

The show includes: The Sideshow Tramps, Roky Moon & Bolt, Electric Attitude, Young Girls, and The Live Lights.