DeKALB | The first time NIU alum Jeff Genualdi saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers live, it was in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in 1991.

The band, which was promoting its breakthrough album “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,”stopped in DeKalb for the second show of the tour with The Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam supporting them.

Genualdi remembers the swarm of people packed in, the humidity that made the air-and the cellophane that bassist Flea was wrapped up in-wet.

Tonight, the class of ‘93 graduate will return to DeKalb and transform into Flea, laying down basslines of two decades of work with the Funky Monks, a Northwest suburb-based and nationally touring Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band at Otto’s, 118 E. Lincoln Highway.

Northern Star: What do you like about RHCP?

Jeff Genualdi: There’s a lot of things. The first thing is the songs are generally fun and upbeat. They don’t sound quite like any contemporary rock bands out there. A lot of bands are largely influenced by them. They put together sounds from old school punk, a lot of heavy funk influence and just different flavors of rock. Their stuff is pretty challenging to cover. I don’t ever get bored of playing Flea’s bassline.

NS: When did you start listening to them?

JG: I’m an old guy, I’ve been listening to them since 1989, a long time. After “Mother’s Milk” came out and after their first substantial radio hit “Higher Ground,” I was like ‘wow.’ I was intrigued about the band. I’ve been a huge fan ever since.

NS: How do you get into the mindset of becoming Flea?

JG: I got familiar with playing the music and seeing videos and a got a feel of what his approach is and his mannerisms. If you can get that music internalized, it propels me and I get off in a zone, I’m not in a different reality where I think I’m him, but I feel the music and I interpret it in the same ways he does.

NS: Why do you like to come back to Otto’s?

Jeff: We found that generally speaking, the college crowd enjoys what we do more than your typical suburban hangout bars. We travel around, but playing in college towns, we already get a better response. The age group gets the vibe. I’m an NIU grad, so its always special. Otto’s is the best place to see a band in DeKalb.

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The Funky Monks, a Northwest suburb-based and nationally touring Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band, will play at 10 p.m. Tickets are $8.