“A fun, compelling 96 minutes – a film for both cult fans and neophytes who may only know the band from its cover of ‘Gin & Juice’.” Missoulian   (read full review)

“ALL THE LABOR is about one of the greatest American bands to never quite hit it big (yet). The band’s music is a hard one to define. Frontman Kevin Russell kicks out sweet mandolin ballads and guitar-driven rippers with equal aplomb, and dances like his joints were made of ball bearings. The songs of co-frontman and bass player Jimmy Smith sound as if they were constructed in the lab of a mad scientist—surreal, absurd and strangely compelling. Together, they’re a classically oppositional rock-band nucleus, and ALL THE LABOR explores that dynamic to great effect. But all five band members figure prominently in the film. That balance makes ALL THE LABOR something more than a tour film, though the live performances—both on stage and in rehearsals—are top-shelf by the highest standards of that genre. A healthy dose of archival performances and interviews provide a sense of where the band comes from, and when combined with new interviews and behind-the-scenes footage it tells the intriguing story of a band occupying the odd glow of semi-fame.” Missoula Independent   (read full review)

“SXSW Film Report: 5 Must-See Rock Movies.  The Gourds have been rocking Austin with their rootsy brand of Americana for nearly two decades, but their only sniff at national fame came via an unlikely cover of Snoop Dogg’s Gin and Juice, which went viral in the days before most of us knew what that meant outside of its medical context. Unfortunately, their Internet hit was generally credited to Phish in those outlaw Napster days, so The Gourds remain a below-the-radar success story. Doug Hawes-Davis’ rockumentary may change that. Following the band on the road and in the studio as they navigate the perilous waters of the modern music business, ALL THE LABOR is a treat for longtime fans, as well as a great introduction to the raucous alt-country jams and surreal folk anthems of the band’s principle creative forces, Kevin Russell and Jimmy Smith.” Rocker Magazine

“Great acts don’t always get the credit they deserve.  ALL THE LABOR, the new documentary from High Plains Films, is a testament to exactly that. Breaking the typical music documentary mold of an artist’s quick rise to fame and the destruction that then ensues, ALL THE LABOR presents the audience with the deeper discovery of a band’s genuine relationship with their music. Rather than capitalizing through their music, The Gourds live through their music and the audience won’t be able to leave this film without a sincere respect for that.” concertblogger.com  (read full review)

“The Gourds are an acclaimed Austin group of five distinct individuals, and their hillbilly art rock attracts a curious cult audience. ALL THE LABOR, a documentary that delves music-deep into Austin’s Greatest Band, touches on the key biographical points while understanding that nothing about the members is as interesting as its richly invigorating groove connection. Bassist Smith is the most mysterious member, and his story is artfully told through a quirky vignette that cuts a Keaton-esque run to the convenience store on a bicycle with Smith’s solo acoustic swipe at Stadium Blitzer.  Russell gets the focus behind the acoustic guitar on Web Before You Walk Into It. The tune’s themes of trust, surprise and friendship work well here. The band’s co-frontmen Smith and Russell are competitors as well as collaborators, but the other three members are also essential, the film makes clear. Drummer Keith Langford is the practical one, also serving as chief Gourd herder on the road. Hilarious deadpan keyboardist Claude Bernard is the one who brings the joy, and Max Johnston (fiddle, mandolin) is the self-taught virtuoso who raises the musical conversation. These five are in it together against a music industry that can be quite brutal, especially when the songs are too arcane for Americana and too gritty for jam band status.  Named after a Smith song, ALL THE LABOR is about a functional family of organic musicians.  What sets it apart from other music docs is that they aren’t making bands like the Gourds anymore.”  Austin American-Statesman

“An in-depth look at the band, with archival footage and behind-the-scenes goofiness as well as exploring the camaraderie that allows them to remain one of our town’s longest-running and most-beloved acts.”  Austin Chronicle

“ALL THE LABOR delves into the strange story of a fledgling Austin band that hit the virtual big-time via the file-sharing of a larkish cover song. The film tracks the band over a 10-year period, from an odd appearance on the Austin Fox affiliate in preparation for a 2001 SXSW showcase to the recording of 2011’s Old Mad Joy album and ensuing tour. They’re shown in the film as they come across in person: authentic, and not particularly concerned with the vagaries of fame. Given the fakers and takers Austin has produced over the years, that’s a labor deserving more than a little love.”  Texas Observer   (read full review)

“The Gourds, Austin’s ultimate junkyard-rock band, are the subjects of ALL THE LABOR, a documentary that will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the band when it has its premiere in Austin this spring.” New York Times   (read full review)

“An awesome teaser….with commentary by band members, concert footage, and completely candid and entertaining behind-the-scenes footage that captures the quintet wonderfully.”  Missoula Independent   (read full review)

“The Gourds themselves are the subject of a documentary currently funding through Monday, June 11, on Kickstarter.  Doug Hawes-Davis is the founder of the annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana, where he initially met the band in 2001.”  Austin Film Society   (read full review)