When I went to go see a friends band a few months ago they covered Snow (Hey Oh) and Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the crowd went absolutely nuts. Partly because they had an awesome guitar player who made up his own solos, but it definitely got everyone on their toes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9xCCjL1RZE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm2B9iZConQ
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My band plays "Steal My Kisses," by Ben Harper, and this always seems to get a decent response. This song is almost becoming a standard on the scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF0C36OvoT4
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After a careful consideration I decided that Lady Sniff is the right answer to your question.

It has all those qualities you asked for except that it's somewhat older than 5 years... it comes from Psychic...Powerless...Another Man's Sac, a 1985 Butthole Surfers album.
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Freebird!

(Heh. The funny thing is, it actually does kind of meet all your criteria, except for the "recent" one.)
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I always enjoyed playing something with a driving beat that most people in the bar wouldn't know, but still better than anything I could write on my own. Right now my suggestion would be "Chinatown" by Thin Lizzy. The song rocks, isn't all that hard to learn, and people seem to really dig it. It's also nice because, frankly, most people have never heard the song.

I know you want something from the past five years ("Chinatown" was released in the late 70's or possibly the early 80's) so it obviously doesn't fit that criteria, but my suggestion is to take something older and put a fresh spin on it. "Chinatown," if done right, can rock as hard as anything in the past five years. Phil Lynott didn't have an especially great voice and should be easy for a "regular" singer to pull off. Male would be best, but I think the right female could pull it off.

The song seriously rocks, and personally I'd open a set with it.

Give it a shot.
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I also don't seem to be able to meet the criteria of recent, but my suggestion for inspiring and catchy would be Collective Soul, just put on the 7 Year Itch Collection and scrolled through a few tracks quickly. May I suggest: Heavy, Shine, or Gel.
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I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie

somewhat older

The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
Put The Message In The Box - World Party
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Super-Connected - Belly
You're No Rock 'N Roll Fun - Sleater-Kinney
Starry Eyes - The Records
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I have two rock songs that come to mind that were released approximately five years ago. These are two of my favorite rock songs within the past 5 years. By the way, would you be posting the performance of the song you picked? ; )

Float On by Modest Mouse is a mellow rock song with an 80's feel to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLkC8l3nJro

Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand is a bit more up-beat than the previous song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM4dxI0mO1k
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