Slowly, surely, The Trews are taking root.

The Niagara-based rock act and its major-label debut House of Ill Fame are wracking up the accolades and finally getting recognition as one of this country's best mainstream rock acts.

Funny what you can accomplish when you say goodbye to a personal life and work yourself until near death.

"I didn't say it wasn't earned," laughs guitarist John-Angus MacDonald of the Ill Fame fame.

Some of the more notable accomplishments of The Trews since the album's release last August include: A Juno nomination for best new artist, being named the best recording artist of the year by the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities, a MuchMusic Video Award nomination, and No. 1 rock radio track.

For MacDonald, those things are great, but difficult to dwell on when you're still trying to get to the top.

"I haven't had a lot of opportunity to reflect on highlights, but definitely being at the Junos doing press next to Alice Cooper and things like that are sort of wakeup calls that you've taken a few steps in the right direction," he says, also noting the band's appearance at the MMVAs and at the NHL awards as highlights (where he met Jarome Iginla).

"But at the end of the day I'm happiest after we've played a good show."

They've had enough opportunities for that since the album's release.

In fact, the band's booking agent -- who also represents Nickelback, Evanescence and other big-time international touring acts -- had The Trews tallied at around 250 shows in 2003 alone.

"They said on the roster we played the most shows that year," he says, before laughing. "I guess we got paid the least."

The band's upcoming shows -- at Stage 13 in Camrose tomorrow, and at Nashville North on the Stampede Grounds next Thursday -- will mark yet another opportunity for locals to see the band.

A conservative estimate would make that the sixth or seventh time in the past 12 months, either as a opener or a headliner.

But MacDonald doesn't think The Trews haven't yet worn out their welcome -- in fact he thinks they're just getting started.

"I think a lot of people are still just hearing about us now for the first time," he says.

"So I wouldn't say it's saturation or anything because we didn't become -- I'm not going to say a household name -- but let's say a close-to-a-household name until the last couple of months."