When it comes to giving the perfect rock concert, the guys in Bon Jovi could teach a master's seminar.

Inventive, ever-morphing video effects that go miles beyond the standard big screens?

Check.

Fan-friendly touches, including using a text-message contest to bring fans to stage-side seats, keeping the crowd surprised all night?

Check.

Superb musicianship from every player and an array of fist-pumping classic hits?

Check.

And, oh yeah, how about a lead singer with the nonstop energy, cool vibe and nice-guy appeal of Jon Bon Jovi?

Check. Check. Check.

On Monday night, the sold-out crowd of 17,000 that filled Qwest Center Omaha got it all in a generous, 2½-hour show that covered 25 years of great music from the New Jersey band.

The opening burst of songs ranged from the group's first big hit, 1982's "Runaway," to the hard-rockin' classic "You Give Love a Bad Name" to the country-tinged "Lost Highway," the title song from the band's latest album.

Jon Bon Jovi didn't waste much time on talk, but he did stop once to offer a quick greeting to the crowd, which appeared to span at least three generations of rock fans.

"The guys are here because there's no more football," he yelled. "And the girls are here because . . . ."

He paused, did a little vamping, and let the crowd fill it in for themselves.

Yeah, we get it. The rocker knows that, at 45, he still is a fine sight in his skin-tight black jeans, red T-shirt and black leather jacket. Equally impressive was the look of joy that filled his face for most of the night. No fake rock sneer is ever needed for this guy.

The real stars, of course, were the songs, played with perfect attack all night by the central band of guitarist Richie Sambora, drummer Tico Torres and keyboardist David Bryan.

Opening the show with a tight, 45-minute set was the rock band Daughtry, led by 2006 "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry.

Only about half of the crowd had settled into their seats by the time the group took the stage, about 10 minutes past the show time of 7:30 p.m.

But Daughtry and his mates quickly grabbed command with an aggressive array of guitar-driven songs, including the Top 20 hits "It's Not Over" and "Over You." By the time they closed with "Home," a monster ballad that dominated rock and pop radio for months, they had done enough to win a nice ovation.

Even in so short a set, it was evident that this hard-working band could use a fun melody or two to add variety to the rock angst. Perhaps that's a lesson they'll learn on this tour from Bon Jovi.