BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A reunion of the pyschodots, voted Cincinnati's favorite band in the 1997 Cammys, will be one highlight of the second annual Enquirer Cincinnati Area Pop Music Awards, March 15 at Sycamore Gardens.

The trio of Rob Fetters, Bob Nyswonger and Chris Arduser will get back together to celebrate the Tristate's music and honor the memory of Michael Bany, the local singer/bassist who was killed in a post-gig robbery on Dec. 29, 1995.

Blessid Union of Souls, the biggest local name on the '90s pop charts, will do a special ''unplugged'' set. Grammy-winning, opera-writing, former All-Pro Bengal Mike Reid will make a rare solo appearance. Latin X-Posure, the 12-piece salsa band, will make its Cammy debut.

In addition, some of last year's winners will return to perform at the 1998 awards.

• Noah Hunt, on break from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band's tour schedule, will sing in the all-star BluesMasters finale, which will feature some of the top local blues and R&B stars. Anchored by the Bluebirds, the jam will feature Larry and Tim Goshorn, Kelly Richey, Sonny Moorman and many surprise guests.

• Over The Rhine, with 1997 Cammy-winning rock vocalist Karin Bergquist, will perform in its new, expanded format.

• Cammy-winning bands Stagger Lee (country), Roundhead (alternative) will appear, alternating with the presentation of 30 music awards.

Cammy nominees (and winner of the favorite-band award) are chosen by Enquirer readers. Based on the Grammys voting process, nominations are then voted on by a committee of several dozen music industry professionals, ranging from journalists to booking agents to bar managers to radio personalities. The winner of the Michael W. Bany Lifetime Achievement Award is chosen by the Cammy executive committee.

WCPO-TV's Michael Flannery will host the awards.

Ticket sales benefit the Michael W. Bany Memorial Scholarship Fund, which helps local music students attend college.