"Sharon had this marvellous idea of forming an all-girl band called The Incredible Sharon and Her Sisters,"explains Chris as she scribbles the first draft of the night's set list. The Eurasian frontwoman with a cackling laugh and stunning looks takes a gulp of beer: "There were no all-girl bands at that point, so she thought it was a good marketing ploy." Since that fateful day, the three core members have remained: Chris and Kim on guitars and vocals and Jill on the bass. An ever-changing stream of drummers (after all, hardly the most ladylike of instruments) has flowed through the group, though their most recent Sister, a New Zealander named Emma, is proving to be something of a rhythmic goddess. And Sharon? "At this moment I think Sharon's hanging out with Britney Spears," muses Chris. "She's been acting strangely lately." As we grapple in confusion for sense out of the mischievous grins and sniggers from the adjacent groupies, Jill shakes her head with a sympathetic smile. "She doesn't exist," she whispers. Ah.

    With influences ranging from Metallica to Madonna, Eminem to Iggy Pop, the group has been tagged "a cross between The Carpenters and The Sex Pistols" and admits that over the years, its style has evolved with the elements. "It ranges from power pop to grunge to punk. Oh, and we play more than three chords," Chris adds with an amused chuckle. Stressing that they are a girl "band" as opposed to a girl group, there is an edge to these ladies that demands respect. They have overridden the disposable nature of pretty pop. They are entirely bilingual and are dedicated to their group and the scores of "Shazettes" (female groupies) who follow the band around gigs. "But people do expect us to be crap," states Kim. "Being in a girl band you've got more to prove." Hence the nod to Sharon, the ditzy British bimbo persona.

    On this note, with the set list finalized and the beers downed, the women take to the stage. Guitars are tuned and with a nod from Chris the place erupts with "Rose Jam." With 10 years of playing to Hong Kong's drinking crowds under their belts, the girls have perfected their act. After the first few tunes, with subject matters covering everything from aliens to 7 o'clock orgasms to spiders, every face in the club is grinning.

    Launching into a Cantonese number, "Canto Roll," the locals in the audience stare in disbelief as the seemingly straight-outta-England punk chicks embark on a spirited bilingual number. One local businessman shouts out a challenge after they finish, assuming it all to be a show. The guitarist narrows her eyes jokingly and yells back a retort. The man can't believe it and launched into a fit of hysterics while his American buddies gape in amazement.