The Killing Tree (sometimes abbreviated as TKT) was a post-hardcore band from Chicago, Illinois. They are an earlier band of Tim McIlrath (Rise Against's lead singer), and in some sense a reformation of his old band .baxter.. James Kaspar (Tim McIlrath) - Vocals, guitar (Rise Against, ex-.baxter.) Todd P. Rundgren (Tod Mohney) - Guitar (ex-Rise Against, ex-The Falcon) Jean Luc Rue (Geoff Reu) - Bass, vocals (Holy Roman Empire, ex-.baxter.) Botchy Vasquez (Timothy Remis) - Drums (ex-.baxter.)