Over time, Hirshberg has been known as a “road dog,” a “poet,” a “word person,” a “songwriter,” a “guitar player,” a “bass player,” a “jammer,” an “experimental musician,” a “blues guy,” a “DJ,” a “folk person,” a “singer,” and a “Missoula music stalwart.” He has never been known as The King of Hype, a promotional wizard, a sales genius, a distributor of products, or an Offerer of Things That Seem Familiar. He is certain that whatever expectations he had have been either exceeded, or abandoned, or both.