There is something about a Tuesday in College Station that just feels like it needs a soundtrack. Maybe it's the humid breeze blowing off the Brazos, or just that post-class slump near Texas A&M University, but today I found myself tucked away in my favorite corner of Curious Collections in Bryan, Texas, sorting through the latest arrivals.
If you’re a vinyl head in the Bryan-College Station area, you know that the thrill of the hunt is half the fun. But sometimes, the hunt comes to you. Today, we finally opened preorders for a release that has the whole shop buzzing: the RSD Essentials edition of The Smashing Pumpkins’ Gish.
What Exactly is an "RSD Essential"?
I get asked a lot at the counter, "Is this a Record Store Day exclusive?" Not exactly. While Record Store Day is that one-day sprint in April, RSD Essentials is a year-round program. These are the "must-own" albums—the ones collectors believe are foundational for any shelf—repressed on gorgeous limited-edition colored wax so they stay available for local shops like ours.
This latest drop (RSD Essential 093) is a beauty: Gray with Pink & Purple Splatter. It’s a 35th-anniversary celebration of Gish, the 1991 masterpiece that proved Billy Corgan was a force of nature before the world even knew what "grunge" was.
Why You Need Gish on Your Shelf
For the Aggies looking to expand their 90s rock collection, Gish is the blueprint. It’s psychedelic, it’s heavy, and this version is remastered on 180-gram vinyl.
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Essential Tracks: "Siva," "I Am One," and the absolute dreamscape that is "Rhinoceros."
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The Look: It features the original 1991 packaging, so it feels authentic to the era—just with a much cooler-looking platter.
Smashing Pumpkins: 2026 Live Updates
If you’re looking to catch the band live after picking up the record, here is the current 2026 outlook:
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Mexico City, MX: The band is headlining Vive Latino on March 14–15, 2026. If you’re up for a spring break road trip south of the border, this is the place to be.
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Texas Status: While there aren't confirmed dates for Houston, Austin, or Dallas just yet for the summer leg, the rumor mill is spinning about a major North American announcement following their Mexico festival appearance. We’ll be sure to blast it out on our socials the second we hear about a Texas stop!
Secure Your Copy (And More!) Online
We know not everyone can make it down to 710 N Rosemary every week, but that shouldn't mean you miss out on the good stuff.
At Curious Collections, we’ve made it easier than ever to build your library. You can preorder Gish right here on our website, along with dozens of other weekly new releases. From the latest indie exclusives to those hard-to-find metal imports, we update our online preorder catalog every single week.
Don't wait for the street date on May 29th—once these splatter variants are gone, they're gone.